Best of
Theology
2013
Encounters with Jesus: Unexpected Answers to Life's Biggest Questions
Timothy J. Keller - 2013
What is my purpose in life? What is a good life? Why is there so much wrong with our world? What can I do to help make it right? These are some of the big questions that everyone must answer. And any lasting change in our lives will start with a change to one or more of our answers to these questions. Jesus changed the life of every person he met in the Gospels, through powerful experiences and words that led them to unexpected and transforming answers to their big questions. These conversations can still address our questions and doubts today. Originally published as an eSeries, Encounters with Jesus focuses on several of these meetings — including with a skeptical student, a religious insider, an outcast, even Jesus’ mother — and shows how the central events in Jesus’ life provide ways for us to encounter him again or for the first time.
Walking with God through Pain and Suffering
Timothy J. Keller - 2013
The question of why there is pain and suffering in the world has confounded every generation; yet there has not been a major book from a Christian perspective exploring why they exist for many years. The two classics in this area are When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, which was published more than thirty years ago, and C. S. Lewis’s The Problem of Pain, published more than seventy years ago. The great secular book on the subject, Elisabeth Ku¨bler-Ross’s On Death and Dying, was first published in 1969. It’s time for a new understanding and perspective, and who better to tackle this complex subject than Timothy Keller? As the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, Timothy Keller is known for the unique insights he shares, and his series of books has guided countless readers in their spiritual journeys. Walking with God through Pain and Suffering will bring a much-needed, fresh viewpoint on this important issue.
Galatians for You
Timothy J. Keller - 2013
Tim Keller's trademark gift of clear explanation and compelling insights make this a uniquely flexible resource. This expository guide to Galatians will help Bible teachers, devotional readers and anyone with an interest in the book of Galatians.
One Perfect Life: The Complete Story of the Lord Jesus
John F. MacArthur Jr. - 2013
John MacArthur shares with us the complete story of the Eternal Christ from Genesis to Revelation. Using Matthew as the base text, Dr. MacArthur blends the gospels and other biblical material about Jesus into one continuous story that will help you better understand Scripture and grow stronger in your faith. No other harmony of the Gospels includes such extensive study notes to help you unpack the meaning of each verse.Features include:Verse-by-verse explanations from one of the most important pastor-teachers of our timeEvery verse connected to Christ from Genesis to RevelationA harmony of the Gospels that demonstrates the inerrancy of ScriptureNew King James translation
Five Points: Towards a Deeper Experience of God's Grace
John Piper - 2013
But do we really know how deeply we don't deserve it? Only God can reveal that to us. He does it through the Bible. And when he does, the wonders of his grace explode with brightness as never before. These Five Points are about how Christians come into being, and how we are kept forever. It reaches back into times past when we were freely chosen. It reaches forward into the future when we will be safe and happy forever. It reaches down into the mysteries of the work of Christ, purchasing the gift of faith for all God's children. And it reaches into the human soul, glimpsing the mysteries of the Spirit's work as he conquers all our rebellion and makes us willing captives of King Jesus.Piper believes that our experience of grace grows with our grasp of God's gracious work. He invites us to come with him on this quest.
Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels
J. Warner Wallace - 2013
A. County homicide detective and former atheist, Cold-Case Christianity examines the claims of the New Testament using the skills and strategies of a hard-to-convince criminal investigator. Christianity could be defined as a “cold case”: it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity. A unique apologetic that speaks to readers’ intense interest in detective stories, Cold-Case Christianity inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity.
Judges for You
Timothy J. Keller - 2013
As we read this as an account of how He works in history, it comes alive. The Book of Judges is not an easy read. But living in the times we do, it is an essential one." Join Dr Timothy Keller as he opens up the book ofJudges, helping you to get to grips with its meaning and showing how it transforms our hearts and lives today.Written for people of every age and stage, from enquirers to new believers to pastors and teachers, this exible resource is the 2nd installment in the curriculum series, "God's Word For You."Judges For You is for you to:Read: As a guide to this historical narrative, pointing you forward to God's greatest rescue of all.Feed: As a daily devotional to help you grow in Christ as you read and meditate on this portion of God's word.Lead: As notes to aid you in explaining, illustrating and applying Judges as you preach or lead a Bible study.Whoever you are, and however you use it, this is JUDGES FOR YOU.
Living in Christ's Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God
Dallas Willard - 2013
He reflects on the power of the Trinity in our lives, the meaning of knowledge, the importance of spiritual disciplines and much more. Dallas Willard offers poignant thoughts about what it will be like to transition into the very presence of Christ in heaven. This book is adapted from the talks given at the February 2013 Dallas Willard Center "Knowing Christ Today" conference in Santa Barbara, California. Each chapter is followed with an illuminating dialogue between Dallas Willard and John Ortberg. The book closes with the theme of offering a blessing to one another. These reflections form an apt conclusion to Dallas Willard's public ministry. It is a gift of grace. A conversation guide written by Gary W. Moon is included. Also available is the companion Living in Christ's Presence DVD.
Is God anti-gay?: And other questions about homosexuality, the Bible and same-sex attraction
Sam Allberry - 2013
Christians, the church and the Bible seem to be out of step with modern attitudes towards homosexuality. And there is growing hostility towards those who hold a different view. So is God homophobic? And what do we say, and how do we relate to to both Christians and non Christians who experience same-sex attraction.In this short, simple book, Sam Allberry wants to help confused Christians understand what God has said about these questions in the scriptures, and offers a positive and liberating way forward through the debate.
The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology
Pascal Denault - 2013
Book by Denault, Pascal
Lumen Fidei: The Light of Faith
Pope Francis - 2013
It is a capstone of the year, but at the same time a milestone of a long road, a road we have only begun to travel: the road of the New Evangelization.” –from the Foreword by Scott Hahn On June 29, 2013 Pope Francis issued his first papal letter reflecting on the nature of belief and the need to renew our faith for a bright future of charity and love for all. "The light of Faith: this is how the Church's tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus," Pope Francis writes. "In John's Gospel, Christ says of himself: 'I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.'" Here is an illuminating work inviting all to lead a more spiritual and faith-based, a reminder that with faith comes service, and with service to others and to God comes heaven on earth.
From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective
David Gibson - 2013
Incorporating contributions from a host of respected theologians, From Heaven He Came and Sought Her stands as the first comprehensive resource on definite atonement as it examines the issue from historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral perspectives.Offering scholarly insights for those seeking a thorough and well-researched discussion, this book will encourage charitable conversations as it winsomely defends this foundational tenet of Reformed theology.
Not by Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith
Jon Bloom - 2013
It requires following the unseen into an unknown, and believing Jesus's words over and against the threats we see or the fears we feel. Through the imaginative retelling of 35 Bible stories, Not by Sight gives us glimpses of what it means to walk by faith, counsel for how to trust God's promises more than our perceptions, and the way to find rest in the faithfulness of God.
One with Christ: An Evangelical Theology of Salvation
Marcus Peter Johnson - 2013
In our preaching, teaching, and witnessing, we often separate salvation from the Savior.Looking to the Scriptures and church history, Marcus Johnson reveals the true riches of our salvation by reintroducing us to the foundation of our redemption--our mysterious union with the living Christ.
The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments
Thomas R. Schreiner - 2013
He traces the storyline of the scriptures from the standpoint of biblical theology, examining the overarching message that is conveyed throughout. Schreiner emphasizes three interrelated and unified themes that stand out in the biblical narrative: God as Lord, human beings as those who are made in God's image, and the land or place in which God's rule is exercised. The goal of God's kingdom is to see the king in his beauty and to be enraptured in his glory.
What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qur'an
James R. White - 2013
Through fair, contextual use of the Qur'an as the primary source text, apologist James R. White presents Islamic beliefs about Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the afterlife, and other important topics. White shows how the sacred text of Islam differs from the teachings of the Bible in order to help Christians engage in open, honest discussions with Muslims.
Death by Living: Life Is Meant to Be Spent
N.D. Wilson - 2013
D. Wilson reminds each of us that to truly live we must recognize that we are dying. Every second we create more of our past—more decisions, more breathing, more love and more loathing, all of it slides by into the gone as we race to grab at more moments, at more memories made and already fading.We are all authors, creators of our own pasts, of the books that will be our lives. We stare at the future or obsess about the present, but only the past has been set in stone, and we are the ones setting it. When we race across the wet concrete of time without purpose, without goals, without laughter and love and sacrifice, then we fail in our mortal moment. We race toward our inevitable ends without artistry and without beauty.All of us must pause and breathe. See the past, see your life as the fruit of providence and thousands of personal narratives. What led to you? You did not choose where to set your feet in time. You choose where to set them next.Then, we must see the future, not just to stare into the fog of distant years but to see the crystal choices as they race toward us in this sharp foreground we call the present. We stand in the now. God says create. Live. Choose. Shape the past. Etch your life in stone, and what you make will be forever.
Do What Jesus Did: A Real-Life Field Guide to Healing the Sick, Routing Demons and Changing Lives Forever
Robby Dawkins - 2013
They are for today. For everyone. Chicagoland pastor Robby Dawkins sees this again and again in his ministry to hurting people and even to gang members. Everyday people are seeing God's power unleashed through simple faith in God's Word; they are healing the sick, routing demons, and making a dynamic impact for the Kingdom of God.But many other believers are missing out, unaware that they have far more power and authority than they realize.Dawkins shares dynamic, real-life instruction and amazing stories from the front lines of ministry, showing that believers carry the authority of the Son of God and the power of the Holy Spirit wherever they are. When we walk in the presence and authority of God, we will do what Jesus did.
Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages: The Layman's Quick Guide to Thomism
Taylor R. Marshall - 2013
Foundations, An Overview of Systematic Theology
R.C. Sproul - 2013
Sproul shows that the truths of Scripture relate to each other in perfect harmony. This eye-opening series addresses a myriad of questions about the origin and authority of the Bible, God, the Trinity, man, sin, salvation, revelation, miracles, the church, the end times, and more.
Raptureless
Jonathan Welton - 2013
In Normal Christianity he laid the groundwork for having a Kingdom Worldview. Then in Eyes of Honor he magnificently unveiled our identity in Christ. In his fourth and newest book, Raptureless; An Optimistic Guide to the End of the World, Jonathan bares his theological teeth.The End Times have become the King of the Sacred Cows for the Modern Church. Jonathan fearlessly treads where most leaders will not and asks questions that many thirst to ask but can't articulate. Questions such as, what does the Bible really say about:A secret rapture of the Church?A Future One-World Ruler?A Future Seven-Year Tribulation?Are we living in the Last Days?Welton's answers to these questions are thoroughly argued and scripturally based. Prepare to be stretched and see the Bible through brand new eyes!
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief
John M. Frame - 2013
This magisterial opus at once biblical, clear, cogent, readable, accessible, and practical summarizes the mature thought of one of the most important and original Reformed theologians of the last hundred years. It will enable you to see clearly how the Bible explains God's great, sweeping plan for mankind.
Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved
J.D. Greear - 2013
D. Greear. He struggled for many years to gain an assurance of salvation and eventually learned he was not alone. “Lack of assurance” is epidemic among evangelical Christians.In Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart, J. D. shows that faulty ways of presenting the gospel are a leading source of the confusion. Our presentations may not be heretical, but they are sometimes misleading. The idea of “asking Jesus into your heart” or “giving your life to Jesus” often gives false assurance to those who are not saved—and keeps those who genuinely are saved from fully embracing that reality.Greear unpacks the doctrine of assurance, showing that salvation is a posture we take to the promise of God in Christ, a posture that begins at a certain point and is maintained for the rest of our lives. He also answers the tough questions about assurance: What exactly is faith? What is repentance? Why are there so many warnings that seem to imply we can lose our salvation?Such issues are handled with respect to the theological rigors they require, but Greear never loses his pastoral sensitivity or a communication technique that makes this message teachable to a wide audience from teens to adults.
Name Above All Names
Alistair Begg - 2013
Yet the busyness of our lives and the diversions of this world often distract us from knowing the most important person we could ever know. Perhaps we need some help to see Jesus afresh.In this thoughtful study and worshipful reflection, two influential pastors draw on decades of pastoral experience in order to guide us through the whole sweep of Scripture and examine seven key qualities of Jesus's identity and ministry:Jesus as the True Prophet Jesus as the Great High Priest Jesus as the Conquering King Jesus as the Seed of the Woman Jesus as the Son of Man Jesus as the Suffering Servant Jesus as the Lamb on the Throne Name above All Names helps us to see and meditate on the incomparable character of Christ--a spiritual exercise that enables us to readily respond to the exhortations of Scripture, to focus our gaze upon the King of kings, and to better understand just how great Jesus really is.
Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative
Sam Storms - 2013
Many hold to premillennialism: that Christ's return will be followed by 1,000 years before the final judgement, a belief popularised in the popular Left Behind novels. However, premillennialism is not the only option for Christians. In this important new book, Sam Storms provides a biblical rationale for amillennialism; the belief that 1,000 years mentioned in the book of Revelation is symbolic with the emphasis being the King and his Kingdom.
Sins We Accept
Jerry Bridges - 2013
Sins such as jealousy, anger, pride, judgmentalism, and unthankfulness are addressed in this booklet. Jerry writes not from a height of spiritual accomplishment but from the trenches of his own battles with sin. In his admonitions, Jerry offers a message of hope in the profound mercy of the gospel and the transforming grace of God as the means to overcome our subtle sins.
Becoming Human: Meditations on Christian Anthropology in Word and Image
John Behr - 2013
Fight: A Christian Case for Non-Violence
Preston Sprinkle - 2013
With prophetic relevance, New York Times bestselling author Preston Sprinkle tackles the controversy surrounding violence and grapples with surprising conclusions. Anyone who has struggled with the morality of violence will appreciate this convincing biblical guide.
The Cosmos Reborn
John Crowder - 2013
Christ cured the human condition. John's new book explores the universal scope of the cross - if one died for all, then all died! "For God was in Christ reconciling the cosmos to Himself." He has woven humanity into His divinity! Dispel the myth of a dark, schizophrenic god of religion. This book makes a scandalous case that the Father of Jesus Christ is in a good mood.Need a religious detox? Have a dose of happy theology on the new creation! Good news to liberate your life ...Though we opposed Him as "enemies in our minds," God never set Himself against us as our enemy. Adam was breathed from the very life of God, and it has always been the Creator's intent to restore humanity to the bliss and immortality of its divine origin. In the incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God included you and absorbed the entire created order into Himself, bringing an end to decay and corruption. Mortality has been swallowed up by immortality.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlpfX-...
Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically, Daily Devotional Workbook
John Snyder - 2013
TOC:Beholding God: The great attraction! --Beholding God: Clearing the way for our return --Beholding God in the Bible --Beholding God in the face of Jesus Christ --Beholding God in the work of salvation --Beholding God and the response of personal holiness --Beholding God: Restoring worship in our lives --Beholding God and evangelism --Beholding God and our Christian service --Beholding a lesser God? --Beholding God: Avoiding the lies of pragmatism --Seeking the God we are beholding --Appendices: Theological dictionary --Suggested reading.
My Elder Joseph the Hesychast
Elder Ephraim - 2013
He was an exceptional phenomenon in these contemporary days of spiritual poverty, and his life emits the fragrance of sanctity. The providence of God arranges that there will be such heroes in every generation so that there will always be inspiring examples." - Elder Ephraim--------------------This is the most complete biography of Elder Joseph the Hesychast, one of the most important figures of Athonite monasticism in the twentieth century. The book presents previously unpublished stories about Elder Joseph’s brotherhood and his other spiritual children, his spiritual counsels, struggles, and miracles after his holy repose. Includes B/W and color photographs.
Live Like a Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewis's Chronicles
Joe Rigney - 2013
Lewis thought about everything was secretly present in what he said about anything. From apologetics to his thoughts on education, from his view of science to the role of government, from Natural Law to true manhood and womanhood—the breadth of Lewis's bright vision of life shines through in his beloved Chronicles. Come, learn to breathe Narnian air.
The Pursuit of God and Other Classics
A.W. Tozer - 2013
W. Tozer books in a single, convenient, high quality, but extremely low priced Kindle volume! TABLE OF CONTENTS: The Pursuit of God Knowledge of The Holy Man - The Dwelling Place of God The Christian Book of Mystical Verses
The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government
Matthew J. Trewhella - 2013
The rule of law is crumbling. The massive expansion of Federal government power with its destructive laws and policies is of grave concern to many. But what can be done to quell the abuse of power by civil authority? Are unjust or immoral actions by the government simply to be accepted and their lawless commands obeyed? How do we know when the government has acted tyrannically? Which actions constitute proper and legitimate resistance? This book places in your hands a hopeful blueprint for freedom. Appealing to history and the Word of God, Pastor Matthew Trewhella answers these questions and shows how Americans can successfully resist the Federal government's attempts to trample our Constitution, assault our liberty, and impugn the law of God. The doctrine of the lesser magistrates declares that when the superior or higher civil authority makes an unjust/immoral law or decree, the lesser or lower ranking civil authority has both the right and duty to refuse obedience to that superior authority. If necessary, the lower authority may even actively resist the superior authority. Historically, this doctrine was practiced before the time of Christ and Christianity. It was Christian men, however, who formalized and embedded it into their political institutions throughout Western Civilization. The doctrine of the lesser magistrates is a historic tool that provides proven guidelines for proper and legitimate resistance to tyranny, often without causing any major upheaval in society. The doctrine teaches us how to rein in lawless acts by government and restore justice in our nation. "Use this sword against my enemies, if I give righteous commands; but if I give unrighteous commands, use it against me." -Roman Emperor Trajan, speaking to one of his subordinates This is the first book published solely addressing the doctrine of the lesser magistrates in over 400 years. Matthew Trewhella is the pastor of Mercy Seat Christian Church. He is a graduate of Valley Forge Christian College. He and his wife, Clara, have eleven children and nine grandchildren, and reside in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. His research and teaching on the lesser magistrate doctrine is reshaping the thinking of Americans. He was instrumental in publishing the Magdeburg Confession in 2012 - the first English translation of the document since it was written in 1550.
Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power
Andy Crouch - 2013
People too often abuse their power and play god in the lives of others. Shady politicians, corrupt executives and ego-filled media stars have made us suspicious of those who wield influence and authority. They too often breed injustice by participating in what the Bible calls idolatry. Yet power is also the means by which we bring life, create possibilities, offer hope and make human flourishing possible. This is "playing god" as it is meant to be. If we are to do God's work—fight injustice, bring peace, create beauty and allow the image of God to thrive in those around us—how are we to do these things if not by power? With his trademark clear-headed analysis, Andy Crouch unpacks the dynamics of power that either can make human flourishing possible or can destroy the image of God in people. While the effects of power are often very evident, he uncovers why power is frequently hidden. He considers not just its personal side but the important ways power develops and resides in institutions. Throughout Crouch offers fresh insights from key biblical passages, demonstrating how Scripture calls us to discipline our power. Wielding power need not distort us or others, but instead can be stewarded well. An essential book for all who would influence their world for the good.
Extravagant Grace: God's Glory Displayed in Our Weakness
Barbara R. Duguid - 2013
Where is the joy and peace we read about in the Bible? Speaking from her own struggles, Barbara Duguid turns to the writings of John Newton to teach us a theology with a purpose for our failure and guilt one that adjusts our expectations of ourselves. Her empathetic, honest approach lifts our focus from our own performance back to the God who is bigger than our failures and who uses them. Rediscover how God's extravagant grace makes the gospel once again feel like the good news it truly is.
Journey to the Cross: Devotions for Lent
Will Walker - 2013
But when we wake up on Easter Sunday, we often struggle to grasp the significance of the day and find ourselves on the outside of the celebration looking in. Journey to the Cross moves us closer to the heart of Easter through forty days of Bible readings, prayers of confession and thanksgiving, and daily devotional readings. This forty-day devotional takes a deeper look into six central themes of the Christian life: repentance, humility, suffering, lament, sacrifice, and death. Journey to the Cross moves beyond “doing penance” and helps Christians focus on Christ’s sacrifice for us—the real meaning of Easter and the reason we celebrate. Journey to the Cross serves as a combined liturgical guide and devotional—presenting a call to worship, confessional, gospel reading, and daily devotional with application. This compact devotional guide meets the needs of Christians who want to prepare their hearts for Easter but don’t know how, and it answers the growing desire of many to be connected to the broader history of the church. At its heart, Lent is all about Jesus—his suffering and sacrifice, all powered by his love for his people. Taking the time to meditate on the cross will give readers the opportunity to re-center their hearts, reframe their lives, and rekindle their love for Christ this Easter.
Covenants Made Simple: Understanding God's Unfolding Promises to His People
Jonty Rhodes - 2013
With clarity and wit, he shows us how covenants carry the Bible’s story from start to finish and ultimately give root to the gospel of salvation by grace. Beginning with Adam in the garden of Eden, and ending with Jesus, our risen Covenant King, Rhodes illuminates the good news of a promise-making, promise-keeping God.Key topics include law and grace, union with Christ, baptism in the Spirit, predestination, and water baptism. Rediscover the Bible’s unified covenantal story and its unfolding message throughout Scripture.
NKJV, The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, eBook: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Charles F. Stanley - 2013
Stanley Life Principles Bible delivers Dr. Stanley's cherished values to benefit every Christian in his or her life's pursuits. With more than 442,000 in print, The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible communicates the life principles Dr. Stanley has gleaned from the Word through his years of Bible teaching and pastoral ministry. The result is a Bible overflowing with practical articles, notes, and sidebars that help readers understand what the Bible has to say about life’s most important questions.
Features include:
30 Life Principles with articles throughout the Bible
Life Lessons verse notes
Life Examples from the people of the Bible
Answers to Life's Questions and What the Bible Says About articles
God's Promises for Life index to get into the Scriptures
Book introductions
Concordance
Part of the Signature Series line of Thomas Nelson Bibles
Love Into Light: The Gospel, the Homosexual and the Church
Peter Hubbard - 2013
Headlines teem with stories of athletes "coming out," politicians changing positions and courts handing down same-sex marriage rulings. Sadly the church has often been afraid to talk about homosexuality. Many Christians feel confused and divided between the call to love and the call for truth. And many who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction feel alone and alienated by the church. The time is ripe for God's people to think and speak about same-sex attraction in a way that is both biblical and beneficial. We must reject our fears and misunderstandings and see ourselves together in need of the grace of Jesus. Love Into Light is designed to move the church toward that end. Written from the heart of a pastor with a love for people and a sensitivity to our culture, Love Into Light is your next step toward becoming more faithfully and helpfully engaged with people in your families, in your church and in your neighborhood.
Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way
Voddie T. Baucham Jr. - 2013
Slavery. Power. Redemption.We think we know the story of Joseph—the young man sold into slavery by his own brothers before rising to immense power over all of Egypt. But is it possible that we've missed the real story behind the story?In Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors, Voddie Baucham Jr. helps us to understand the crucial role that the story of Joseph plays in redemptive history. Engaging and thoughtful, this book will help you read the Bible from a Christ-centered perspective and revitalize your love for God—the true hero of history.
The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent
John Piper - 2013
Helping us refocus on what's truly important, well-known pastor and author John Piper leads readers through twenty-four short meditations on Advent. The devotionals—drawn from Piper's extensive preaching and teaching ministry--lead readers to ponder afresh the birth of Jesus, Israel's long-awaited Messiah and the Savior of the world. Reflecting on several Scriptural texts, this accessible volume aims to direct individuals, families, and churches to the most glorious dawning of indestructible joy the world has ever seen: the incarnation of the Son of God.
The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss
David Bentley Hart - 2013
Are those engaged in these arguments even talking about the same thing? In a wide-ranging response to this confusion, esteemed scholar David Bentley Hart pursues a clarification of how the word “God” functions in the world’s great theistic faiths.Ranging broadly across Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Vedantic and Bhaktic Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, Hart explores how these great intellectual traditions treat humanity’s knowledge of the divine mysteries. Constructing his argument around three principal metaphysical “moments”—being, consciousness, and bliss—the author demonstrates an essential continuity between our fundamental experience of reality and the ultimate reality to which that experience inevitably points.Thoroughly dismissing such blatant misconceptions as the deists' concept of God, as well as the fundamentalist view of the Bible as an objective historical record, Hart provides a welcome antidote to simplistic manifestoes. In doing so, he plumbs the depths of humanity’s experience of the world as powerful evidence for the reality of God and captures the beauty and poetry of traditional reflection upon the divine.
The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate
Michael J. Kruger - 2013
Kruger to pick apart modern scholarship's dominant view that the New Testament is a late creation of the church imposed on books originally written for another purpose. Calling into question this commonly held "extrinsic" view, Kruger here tackles the five most prevalent objections to the classic understanding of a quickly emerging, self-authenticating collection of authoritative scriptures. Already a noted author on the subject of the New Testament canon, Kruger addresses foundational and paradigmatic assumptions of the extrinsic model as he provides powerful rebuttals and further support for the classic, "intrinsic" view. This framework recognizes the canon as the product of internal forces evolving out of the historical essence of Christianity, not a development retroactively imposed by the church upon books written hundreds of years before. Unlike many books written on the emergence of the New Testament canon that ask "when?" or "how?" Kruger focuses this work on the "why?"--exposing weaknesses in the five major tenets of the extrinsic model as he goes. WhileThe Question of Canon scrutinizes today's popular scholastic view, it also offers an alternative concept to lay a better empirical foundation for biblical canon studies.
Matthew
R.C. Sproul - 2013
R. C. Sproul gave 128 sermons on the Gospel of Matthew, which have now been edited into this collection of memorable messages. Here is a substantial and practical commentary on the first book of the New Testament canon, one that will serve the church well and will be of great use in small-group settings, sermon preparation, or personal Bible study. Other volumes in the St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary series include Mark, John, Acts, Romans, and 1-2 Peter.
Humble Orthodoxy: Holding the truth high without putting people down
Joshua Harris - 2013
We need both. Orthodoxy, for the faithful, evokes what’s cherished and beautiful and eternal. Yet in our day, orthodoxy is too often wielded like a weapon, used to bludgeon others with differing points of view. The word has become associated with behavior like argumentative, annoying, and arrogant. It’s time for God’s people to demonstrate both right thinking and right attitudes. We are called to embrace and defend biblical truth. But that truth includes repeated commands to love our neighbor, love our enemy, and be clothed in gentleness and respect. In Humble Orthodoxy, bestselling author Joshua Harris examines New Testament teachings about the calling of believers to a love-infused courage that ignores foolish controversies, patiently endures evil, and champions truth with generosity of spirit. Without this kind of humility, Harris asserts, we become like the Pharisees—right in our doctrine, but ultimately destroying the cause of truth with our pride.
Exalting Jesus in Matthew
David Platt - 2013
Akin, and Tony Merida, this new commentary series, projected to be 48 volumes, takes a Christcentered approach to expositing each book of the Bible. Rather than a verse-by-verse approach, the authors have crafted chapters that explain and apply key passages in their assigned Bible books. Readers will learn to see Christ in all aspects of Scripture, and they will be encouraged by the devotional nature of each exposition. Exalting Jesus in Matthew is the second volume in the series and is solely authored by Platt (best-selling author of Radical). Other projected contributors to the series include notable authors such as Russell D. Moore, Al Mohler, Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, Mark Dever, and others.
Quaker faith & practice
Religious Society of Friends - 2013
It is largely composed of extracts: a fitting way of expressing the breadth of Quaker theology. It also describes the current structures of Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.
One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World
Tullian Tchividjian - 2013
Sadly, however, Christianity is perceived as being a vehicle for good behavior and clean living—and the judgments that result from them—rather than the only recourse for those who have failed over and over and over again. Tchividjian convincingly shows that Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good. In this "manifesto," Tchividjian calls the church back to the heart of the Christian faith—grace. It is time for us to abandon our play-it-safe religion, and to get drunk on grace. Two hundred-proof, unflinching grace. It’s shocking and scary, unnatural and undomesticated … but it is also the only thing that can set us free and light the church—and the world—on fire.
An Infinite Journey: Growing Toward Christlikeness
Andrew M. Davis - 2013
But how are we to glorify God for the rest of our lives? The Bible reveals that God has laid before every Christian two infinite journeys which we are to travel every day: the internal journey of growth into Christlike maturity, and the external journey of worldwide evangelism and missions. This book is a roadmap for the internal journey, laying out how we are to grow in four major areas: knowledge, faith, character, and action. In this book, we'll learn how God grows us in knowledge, faith, character, and action. We'll also discover that spiritual knowledge constantly feeds our growing faith, faith will transform our character, our transformed character will result in an array of actions more and more glorifying to God, and our actions will feed our spiritual knowledge. This upward spiral will lead us to become more and more like Jesus Christ in holiness.
Transformed: A Spiritual Journey
Lance Mosher - 2013
He was in a rock band that took music seriously.But he never expected that meeting a toe-sock-wearing Texan would change the course of his life for eternity.Are you ready to look honestly at what you know about life? Go on an exciting, personal journey with Lance Mosher, where he questions everything he thought he knew about Christianity, faith, and salvation—the very essence of who he thought he was. Transformed will resonate with anyone looking for meaning in a world of chaos. How will you be challenged as you enjoy a journey to the center of a soul?
Doxology and Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader
Matt Boswell - 2013
Theology is considered the business of pastors and professors, while worship is the business of musicians and rock stars.But a new wave of young worship leaders is hungry for something different, the desire to think not just pragmatically (sound, charts, guitars) but theologically (the gospel, justice, pastoral ministry) about worship. Likewise, pastors and churches increasingly desire to be led by thoughtful worship leaders who combine doxology and theology.Doxology and Theology is a resource by worship leaders for worship leaders that clearly articulates how these two pieces join together. Contributions from eleven respected worship leaders around the country including Matt Papa (Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham), Aaron Keyes (Grace Church, Atlanta), Michael Bleecker (The Village Church, Dallas), and Zac Hicks (Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, Denver) unite worship with themes of mission, disciple-making, the Word of God, the Trinity, family, and more.
Jesus the Forgiving Victim: Listening for the Unheard Voice - An Introduction to Christianity for Adults
James Alison - 2013
Of course, everyone knows that, and yet it is amazing how often people jump straight into God-talk without examining what sort of animals are doing the talking – human animals, bodies run by desires, dependent, storytelling, animals, time-laden and place-sensitive. This introduction to the Christian faith starts from the assumption that as we become more aware of dimensions of being human that we in fact know already, so the life of faith which God births within us will become richer andeasier to explore and to live.Book Two - God, not one of the godsIt can be difficult to find our way into the texts of the Scriptures because of the linguistic and cultural issues that separate us from the ancient world. We can feel as if we’ve stumbled into the middle of a heated conversation without knowing who the parties are or what they’re so worked up about. Here we approach handling the texts in a more relaxed way so as to get on the inside of some of the issues that the sacred authors were wrestling with. In short, we will be starting to read the Scriptures through the eyes of the Forgiving Victim, just as St. Luke teaches us to do. Our hope is that you will find biblical scholarship to be less frightening than it might seem and you will have acquired a bit more confidence to dabble for yourselves in these biblical texts without being scared of them.Book Three - The difference Jesus makesHere we try to catch some glimpses of the Master as we watch Jesus interpret the Scriptures to his own people. We look at what it means to find ourselves in the presence of the Forgiving Victim. Jesus’ protagonism causes the solid ground to shift beneath us as we become untied from the more destructive ways in which the “social other” runs us. Our old identity slowly falls away so that we can begin to tell new, more truthful stories about ourselves. As you read we hope you will discover for yourself some hints of how being forgiven enables our participation in a new unity; we will begin to discover a “social other” that is good for us, and find that we are no longer depending on keeping ourselves apart and needing others to be our fall guys. As we inhabit the texts of the New Testament we find ourselves called out to form a new people receiving our sense of self and our belonging from the Forgiving Victim in our midst.Book Four - Unexpected InsidersAt this point in our journey we are discovering new dimensions of how we are insiders within a great shift: old patterns of belonging are being undone from within; we can no longer so easily form identities over and against victims because the Forgiving Victim has called us into a new space. As we work through our desire and our belonging, what will the new shape of community take, one in which there are no longer insiders and outsiders, only those who are being inducted into a human story in which death does not have the final say? And how will we respond to the challenges that flow from this?
The Story of Chaplain Kapaun, Patriot Priest of the Korean Conflict
Arthur Tonne - 2013
In the face of overwhelming odds he aided his fellow soldiers, spiritually and emotionally, through their darkest days. Indeed, such was his impact on his comrades that they described him as “More than a man — a Saint.” Published only three years after his death, Arthur Tonne’s fascinating biography captures the spirit of this wonderful man who endured unspeakable horrors and faced them all defiantly. Drawing upon the accounts of his friends, colleagues and family, along with numerous letters written to and from Kapaun, Tonne gives a vivid depiction of his life from his childhood, through to the moment he joined the Catholic Church, his travels across the world, his first days in the army and his final days in a prison camp in Korea. Arthur Tonne, demonstrates how deeply religious Father Kapaun was, but also how understanding and compassionate he was towards his fellow soldiers and prisoners who did not hold his faith. The testimonies of those who knew Father Kapaun in the battlefields of Korea are particularly moving. Pfc. Ernest J. Ritter “I’m sure there are hundreds of G. I.’s who will never forget what Father Kapaun has done for them. In their hearts they will always remember how he kept up the G. I.’s morale”. The Story of Chaplain Kapaun, Patriot Priest of the Korean Conflict is a remarkable account of one Catholic’s personal heroism that constantly gave hope to the soldier’s around him. Arthur Tonne was an author and Catholic priest. He wrote numerous books during his lifetime and served the community of Pilsen for forty-nine years. This book was first published in 1954 and he died in 2003.
The Chronological Gospels: The Life and Seventy Week Ministry of the Messiah
Michael Rood - 2013
You can see what the Messiah was doing each day of his ministry. You can follow along the timeline of his sermons, his miracles and the last days, hours and moments before his crucifixion. The Chronological Gospels also explains the religious debates and issues at the forefront during the Messiah’s ministry and really reveals why he was so hated by those that wanted to kill him. When reconstructed in this manner, the Gospel records synchronize beautifully. Any apparent contradictions that have bothered you are resolved, and the Messiah’s message to his disciples then – and what we can take away from it now – becomes clear and that much more powerful. No longer do you have to try to piece together the Messiah’s life from four separate accounts from different authors with different perspectives. It is done for you! Now all sides of the story are combined and organized so you can watch the motion picture of the Messiah’s ministry unfold before your eyes like you’ve never been able to experience before. If you have ever longed to truly know your Messiah, this is what you have been awaiting. *Please note: Some Kindle versions do not support Hebrew fonts. Please contact Kindle Customer Help if you find this to be an issue with your reader.
Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2014
The Irish Jesuits (The Irish Province of the Society of Jesus) - 2013
Sacred Space books have sold more than 350,000 copies from their inception in 2005, providing insightful daily meditations in the rich traditions of lectio divina (sacred reading) and Ignatian spirituality. With nine years of successful sales, Sacred Space continues to attract readers from all Christian denominations, offering them a year-long prayer aid and complement to the sacredspace.ie website. Using the simple six-step method first developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, this new edition provides daily readings and prayer starters. It is ideal for busy people who want to grab a few moments to read, reflect, and pray.
Antinomianism: Reformed Theology's Unwelcome Guest?
Mark Jones - 2013
More than that, in it Mark Jones offers a key a robust Reformed Christology with a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit and chapter by chapter uses it to unlock nine questions raised by the debates.
The Ascent of Mount Carmel: Reflections
Marc Foley - 2013
Nevertheless, his subject matter and writing style, coupled with his use of Scholastic terminology, can make his prose difficult to understand and intimidating. Readers of The Ascent of Mount Carmel: Reflections will thank Father Marc Foley for making John’s thought accessible and refreshingly contemporary. The author shares with contemporary spiritual seekers his seasoned wisdom, gleaned from years of reading and teaching John of the Cross. He deftly weaves together insights from psychology, theology, and literature to make The Ascent of Mount Carmel both understandable and relevant to daily life.The Notes and Index sections are fully linked.
Let Yourself Be Led by the Immaculate
Maximilian Kolbe - 2013
Maximilian Kolbe in his very own words. Compiled and translated by a Dominican Friar. Everyone has heard of St. Maximilian Kolbe, but few know who he really is. Offering his life for another was simply the crowning end to a life lived in service of the Immaculate, and in this short collection of his words, he teaches us how to truly desire and obtain that same love which burned in his heart. Pulling from numerous sources, all taken from St. Maximilian Kolbe's own words, this little book considers:PrayerThe Mediation of MaryOur Lives as an Instrument in Her HandsThe Divine Will and Our Own WillObedienceThe Practice of Marian DevotionOvercoming DiscouragementPeace of SoulChildlike Devotion to MaryBecoming MaryMissionary ZealIf you are looking for a source of meditation on Mary, and a book that will help you to become closer to her Immaculate Heart, then this is it. You will return to this book again and again to help bring a Marian focus to your daily life, using the words of this saint to truly fall in love with Mary, and to take up her standard as your own. The modern world finds Mary and devotion to Mary to be uncomfortable. St. Maximilian Kolbe, in this short collection, shows that there is no other way to please God but through this total devotion to Mary.
The Binding Force of Tradition
Chad A. Ripperger - 2013
A study of the object and nature of Sacred Tradition and the moral requirement of Catholics to accept the Sacred tradition.
One Bible, Many Versions: Are All Translations Created Equal?
Dave Brunn - 2013
From the perspective of this on-the-ground experience in different cultures he helps us sort out the many competing claims for various English Bible translations. By giving us a better understanding of the process of translation, Brunn helps us read and understand Scripture more clearly. He demonstrates how the variety of translations enables us to grasp more fully the meaning of the biblical text. This clear, readable and informative work will be of special interest to pastors, undergraduate and seminary students, missionaries, Bible translators, Bible study leaders and anyone involved in Christian ministry.
Reflections on the Christian Life: How Our Story Is God's Story
Anthony M. Esolen - 2013
The Promises of God: Discovering the One Who Keeps His Word
R.C. Sproul - 2013
R. C. Sproul shows how God—the one true Promise Keeper—always keeps His promises. Drawing from his expansive theological background, Dr. Sproul addresses questions such as these:· How do we know that God will fulfill His promises to us?· What can we learn about God’s faithfulness as we wait for His promises to be fulfilled?· What was the agreement God the Father had with Jesus before the beginning of the world?· What does God’s covenant with Adam mean for us today?· What common covenant do atheists and other non-Christians participate in with God?· What does God’s covenant have to do with His forgiveness of our sins today?· Why did Jesus have to die to complete God’s covenant with us? God’s promises throughout history are the foundation for your relationship with Him. Here you will see how and why He keeps His promises to you, from now through eternity.
Meet Your Mother
Mark I. Miravalle - 2013
But could the Mother of Jesus also be your mother?That's the question explored in the exciting new book, Meet Your Mother. This easy-read pocket book on Mary covers all the major teachings about the Mother of Jesus, but is particularly written for the person who has little or no background knowledge about her. Authored by Dr. Mark Miravalle, renowned Marian expert and professor who has taught and written about Mary for over 25 years, this is perfect to introduce someone to the life and truth about Jesus' Mother, but also to renew a person's existing knowledge and love for the woman who Jesus gave personally to every human being with his dying words, "This is your mother."
The Emotional Life of our Lord
Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield - 2013
Warfield, "that he was subject to all sinless human emotions." In this short volume, Warfield focusses on Christ's compassion, anger, and sorrow.Warfield (1851-1921), the last of the great Princeton theologians, was professor of theology at Princeton from 1887 until his death.
Ascending Spiral: Humanity's Last Chance
Bob Rich - 2013
Pip Lipkin has lived for 12,000 years, incarnated many times as man, woman, and even as species beyond our world and senses. But he's here for a reason: to pay restitution for an ancient crime by working to save humanity from certain destruction. "Ascending Spiral" is a book that will take the reader to many different places and times, showing, ultimately, that our differences and divisions, even at their most devastating, are less important than our similarities. Reviewers' Acclaim: "Bob Rich powerfully evokes the wounded healer archetype in "Ascending Spiral," taking readers on Pip's painful and insightful journey through lifetimes that serve as a shining example of how to turn misery into virtue." --Diane Wing, author, Coven: Scrolls of the Four Winds "Dr. Bob Rich's "Ascending Spiral" is a true genre-buster, incorporating elements of historical fiction, literary fiction, science fiction, and even a hint of nonfiction to create an entertaining novel with an important message." Magdalena Ball, CompulsiveReader.com "The way of karma rings true for many people, and this book is a very well written and thoughtful explanation of its message. It is also an exciting, historically accurate series of linked stories that will hold the reader in his chair for a single sitting. Highly recommended." Frances Burke, author of Endless Time From Marvelous Spirit Press www.MarvelousSpirit.com "Books that maximize empowerment of mind and spirit"
The Splash of Words: Believing in Poetry
Mark Oakley - 2013
Through thirty selected poems, from the fourteenth century to the present day, Mark Oakley explores poetry's power to stir our settled ways of viewing the world and faith, shift our perceptions and even transform who we are.
The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent: An Informed Response to Islam’s War with Christianity
Erwin W. Lutzer - 2013
In this compelling new book, bestselling author Erwin Lutzer urges Christians to see this as both an opportunity to share the gospel and a reason for concern.We have now reached a tipping point—the spread of Islam is rapidly altering the way we live. These changes are cause for alarm, for they endanger our freedoms of speech and religion.At the same time, this opens an incredible door of ministry for Christians, for Muslims normally do not have access to the gospel in their own lands.In The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent, readers will discover helpful answers to these questions and more:How does Islam’s growing influence affect me personally?In what ways are our freedoms of speech and religion in danger?How can I extend Christ’s love to Muslims around me?A sensitive, responsible, and highly informative must-read!
The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction
Roger E. Olson - 2013
Consequently, it has also been an age of revolutions in theology, as Christians attempt to make sense of their faith in light of the cultural upheavals around them, what Walter Lippman once called the acids of modernity. Modern theology is the result of this struggle to think responsibly about God within the modern cultural ethos. In this major revision and expansion of the classic 20th Century Theology (1992), co-authored with Stanley J. Grenz, Roger Olson widens the scope of the story to include a fuller account of modernity, more material on the nineteenth century and an engagement with postmodernity. More importantly, the entire narrative is now recast in terms of how theologians have accommodated or rejected the Enlightenment and scientific revolutions. With that question in mind, Olson guides us on the epic journey of modern theology, from the liberal reconstruction of theology that originated with Friedrich Schleiermacher to the postliberal and postmodern deconstruction of modern theology that continues today. The Journey of Modern Theology is vintage Olson: eminently readable, panoramic in scope, at once original and balanced, and marked throughout by a passionate concern for the church's faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This will no doubt become another standard text in historical theology.
The Message of Daniel
Dale Ralph Davis - 2013
Explaining the background to Daniel, he sifts through interpretive issues and then offers a faithful exposition of the book's message.
The Saint Louis de Montfort Collection [7 Books]
Louis de Montfort - 2013
The Holy Rosary is explained and how it can be used to fight satan in these times. Also explained is the mystery of suffering and the cross. Saint Louis de Montfort’s works have been extolled by numerous Popes and theologians, including Blessed Pope John II, who consecrated himself to Mary. His moto; “Totus Tuus”, meant “totally yours”.Publisher: Catholic Way Publishing
The Sacrifice of Praise
Herman Bavinck - 2013
The Basis or Foundation of ConfessionII. The Training or Bringing Up Unto ConfessionIII. The Rule of ConfessionIV. The Essence of ConfessionV. The Contents of ConfessionVI. The Diversity of ConfessionVII. The Universality of ConfessionVIII. The Obligation to ConfessionIX. The Opposition to ConfessionX. The Strength for ConfessionXI. The Reward of ConfessionXII. The Triumph of Confession
The Advancing Kingdom
Jonathan Welton - 2013
For centuries we have viewed His Kingdom and His Kingdom agency, the Church, from the limited perspective of our own experiences and the traditions of man. With such a narrow perspective, it is no wonder most people think there has to be something more to this than what we are currently seeing. And there is!The Advancing Kingdom offers a fresh perspective on the Kingdom of God by rising above what we have seen in the Church so far and taking a look at what it could be and will be. God has in mind a glorious expression of the Church within the bigger picture of a full expression of His Kingdom on Earth as it is in heaven—a Church full of apostolic power, prophetic revelation, and unprecedented love of the brethren.In The Advancing Kingdom, Jonathan Welton and Jim Wies have done an incredible job of debunking and unmasking the doctrinal error which the church has embraced as biblical truth. They offer hope and exciting anticipation regarding the posture and function of the Body of Christ in the coming days.Although this is contrary to the prevailing eschatological views of much of today’s Church, a thorough examination of the Scriptures will give us a much bigger view of the “the advancing Kingdom” than most of us have been seeing. God promised David He would raise up the House of David and a descendant would rule there forever. This restoration was inaugurated at His coming, and it is now beginning to be enforced, not just within the Church but through the Church into every sector of society.Topics include The Inauguration of the Kingdom; The Transcendent Nature of the Kingdom; and Finishing the Apostolic Mission. The authors trust that it will bless you and inspire you in your labors for the advancing of His Kingdom. Read it and enjoy the encouragement and empowerment you receive from it. It will build your faith for sure.
Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty
Gregory A. Boyd - 2013
Boyd rejects the idea that a person's faith is as strong as it is certain. In fact, he makes the case that doubt can enhance faith and that seeking certainty is harming many in today's church. Readers who wrestle with their faith will welcome Boyd's message that experiencing a life-transforming relationship with Christ is possible, even with unresolved questions about the Bible, theology, and ethics. Boyd shares stories of his own painful journey, and stories of those to whom he has ministered, with a poignant honesty that will resonate with readers of all ages.
The Bonhoeffer Reader
Clifford J. Green - 2013
The Bonhoeffer Reader brings the best English translation to readers, students, and scholars and provides a ready-made introduction to the thought of this essential thinker
King Jesus Claims His Church
Finny Kuruvilla - 2013
Even in the church, Christians are asking, "Is this what church is supposed to be?" Many Christians sense deep down that there is supposed to be something more, but are unsure of what that something is. These longings can be fulfilled only by discovering God's true intent for His people. The mandate for our generation is to recover a vision for the church that comes from correctly reading Scripture. King Jesus Claims His Church presents a stirring, bold vision for the church that is both biblical and timely.
2014 Magnificat Lenten Companion
Magnificat - 2013
A perfect way to live Lent to the full this year - Lent is a time to refocus our hearts and revive our love of the Lord and one another.A Companion for the Forty Days of Lent, featuring original meditations on the Gospel reading of each day by fifteen gifted authors.Each issue of the Lenten Companion is never the same as the last and contains these one-of-a-kind extras that you won’t find anywhere else:- Inspiring reflections from some of the most gifted Catholic writers for each day- Faith-filled essays- Prayers, poetry, and devotions- Meditations for the Way of the Cross- A treasury of spiritual insights
Living in the Light of Inextinguishable Hope: The Gospel According to Joseph
Iain M. Duguid - 2013
Learn how the story of Joseph prefigures the gospel, testifying to God's electing grace and showing how he redeems and restores broken and dysfunctional sinners to accomplish his purposes.
Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: The Untold Story Of The Lost Books Of The Protestant Bible
Gary G. Michuta - 2013
Michuta traces the path of the Deuterocanon (apocrypha) from it pre-Christian roots through the Protestant Reformation to the nineteenth century and definitively settles the question of whether the Council of Trent added books to Scripture in reaction to Protestantism. Not since 1897 has their been a book, written by a Catholic, on the topic of the Old Testament. Many commonly held myths are exposed while uncovering many little known and surprising information concerning these lost books of the Protestant bible."No book is more important than the Bible, and no question is more important than what writings belong in the Bible. Controversy has raged since Martin Luther challenged the content of Scriptures. In this excellent book Gary Michuta has put the controversy to rest and provides an easy-to-ready yet scholarly explanation and defense of the Catholic Bible." - Steve Ray
Tales of the Defended Ones
Beth Guckenberger - 2013
This resource will shrink the macro picture down to approachable, individual stories of real children and teach about fundamental survival issues. The stories address some of the challenging questions that kids have and weave God's promises to orphans into each one. Special Features: Maps of the story settings, photos showing scenes and people, children's drawings as illustrations, facts and trivia about the countries, prompts to get kids thinking about their own stories and definitions of foreign words and important concepts.
Blue Sapphire of the Mind: Notes for a Contemplative Ecology
Douglas E. Christie - 2013
"There are only sacred places and desecrated places."What might it mean to behold the world with such depth and feeling that it is no longer possible to imagine it as something separate from ourselves, or to live without regard for its well-being? To understand the work of seeing things as an utterly involving moral and spiritual act? Such questions have long occupied the center of contemplative spiritual traditions. In The Blue Sapphire of the Mind, Douglas E. Christie proposes a distinctively contemplative approach to ecological thought and practice that can help restore our sense of the earth as a sacred place. Drawing on the insights of the early Christian monastics as well as the ecological writings of Henry David Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, Annie Dillard, and many others, Christie argues that, at the most basic level, it is the quality of our attention to the natural world that must change if we are to learn how to live in a sustainable relationship with other living organisms and with one another. He notes that in this uniquely challenging historical moment, there is a deep and pervasive hunger for a less fragmented and more integrated way of apprehending and inhabiting the living world--and for a way of responding to the ecological crisis that expresses our deepest moral and spiritual values. Christie explores how the wisdom of ancient and modern contemplative traditions can inspire both an honest reckoning with the destructive patterns of thought and behavior that have contributed so much to our current crisis, and a greater sense of care and responsibility for all living beings. These traditions can help us cultivate the simple, spacious awareness of the enduring beauty and wholeness of the natural world that will be necessary if we are to live with greater purpose and meaning, and with less harm, to our planet.
Stories of Jesus: 40 Days of Prayer and Reflection
Joseph F. Girzone - 2013
Through these reflections, Girzone introduces Jesus and his adult ministry—from his baptism by John the Baptist through his public life and work, to his death and resurrection—pausing along the way to focus on the important people and events of Jesus s world. Girzone invites the reader to “enter into the mind and heart of Jesus, and subtly develop an intimacy with him that may form and deepen one s personal relationship with the Savior. Each day opens with a passage from one of the Gospels, followed by an imaginative retelling of the story found in the scriptural text, and a brief prayer at the end. The forty-day format allows readers to use this book for Lent, or at other times of year to provide a “retreat with Jesus. This creative approach to the life of Jesus will inspire a sense of God s Son as someone who is a constant companion as we walk though our own lives, one who understands, guides, and loves us with deep affection.
The Mockingbird Devotional: Good News For Today (And Every Day)
Ethan Richardson - 2013
We look to it for comfort in the midst of suffering, clarity in times of confusion, or simply to learn about God. Thankfully, what we find in its pages is not a collection of rules or demands but a message of unbending honesty and unspeakable compassion: the gospel of Jesus Christ. With humor and heart (and a surprising number of disco and B-movie references) the 365 short devotions in The Mockingbird Devotional carry the good news of God's mercy and forgiveness to the inner-rooms of human reality.
Catholic Dictionary: An Abridged and Updated Edition of Modern Catholic Dictionary
John A. Hardon - 2013
Now revised to include the statements of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II, new movements and devotions, and other recent developments within Catholicism, this edition brings the legacy of Father Hardon into the contemporary era. A worthy companion to Catechism of the Catholic Church and Scott Hahn's Catholic Bible Dictionary, this book is an essential resource for the Catholic reader.
Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life: From the Cross, for the World
Stephen J. Nichols - 2013
His writings teach us the value of cross-centered theology, and his courageous actions against the Nazi regime compel us to consider the cost of discipleship. From Bonhoeffer we learn that the Christian life is lived both alone and together, and that there is a stark difference between cheap and costly grace. With insight, clarity, and wisdom, Stephen Nichols guides us through the words and deeds of this humble yet heroic pastor, whose example shows us that the Christian's life flows from the cross, for the world.Part of the Theologians on the Christian Life series.
Sustainable Power
Simon Holley - 2013
Here he tells the fascinating story of their church community's journey into faith and expectation. As he and others in the church learn to hear God and trust that he will keep his promises, they find themselves in exciting encounters with his power both inside the church and while going about their day-to-day lives. From many years of reaching out for more of God's blessings while keeping his feet firmly on the ground, Simon shares simply and honestly what he and his church have learned. Having journeyed with Simon Holley and the supernatural community at the King's Arms Church, Bedford, for more than five years now I am so happy to see this book in print. It is a template for the miraculous and living in the reality of the kingdom of God now. I know of no other person more qualified to write on the subjects covered in this book than Simon Holley. His insights and theological truths are matched by his experience of living and developing a people who are more aware of God's presence and his ability to act than they are of the possibility of defeat. These are robust, practical and deeply moving words which will change your life and your church forever. Simon Holley is the most authentic person I know and what is contained in here will leave you wanting more of God and greater displays of his power! This book is a must for pastors, leaders and anyone who wants to see heaven invade earth. Julian Adams, Founder of Frequentsee Trust, speaker and author
Acts of the Apostles
William S. Kurz - 2013
This volume, like each in the series, relates Scripture to life, is faithfully Catholic, and is supplemented by features designed to help readers understand the Bible more deeply and use it more effectively.
What the Early Christians Believed About Salvation
David W. Bercot - 2013
He first explains why it is important to know what they believed. He then sets forth their understanding of salvation and. Next he takes the reader into their writings, to demonstrate conclusively what they actually believed. He then goes to the Scriptures to demonstrate that what they believed is precisely what the New Testament teaches.In the course of this small book, Bercot explains that the early Christians believed that there were two stages of salvation. He also answers the questions: Did the early Christians believe that we saved by faith alone? Or did they believe that obedience plays a role in salvation? 56 page Kindle book.
I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology
David S. Norris - 2013
His writing is both scholarly and readable. Using an Apostolic hermeneutic, he explains the Oneness understanings of christology and the new covenant." -David K. Bernard
NIV Bible: The Gospels
David Suchet - 2013
Starting with the writings of the Apostle Paul to accompany his BBC1 documentary, 'In the Footsteps of St Paul', Suchet now turns his attention to the story of Jesus - the leading figure of Christianity - as he reads from the gospels.This enhanced ebook uses a very quick and easy navigation system to direct you through the biblical text, so you can listen and read along at the same time. Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011 translation.
The Power and The Passion
Adam Houge - 2013
They were not just friends but a closely bonded family, forming their own culture separate from the unbelievers who surrounded them. They made it their living passion to follow the Lord according to truth having only one doctrine. With their hearts on fire miracles, power, and demonstrations of the Holy Spirit were normal for everyday life. These things were done “that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 cor 2:5 But somewhere through time things have changed. We act more as friends than family and truth has many versions. We hardly see the power and miracles the early church saw, only hearing stories of isolated events. But power doesn’t come unless the passion comes first. In this book you will learn how to experience daily, the living power of God and the passion of Jesus Christ in your life. You will learn how to bring back the early church, that it may be alive and real again today.
The Book of Common Prayer: A Biography
Alan Jacobs - 2013
. ." or "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," we may not know that they originated with The Book of Common Prayer, which first appeared in 1549. Like the words of the King James Bible and Shakespeare, the language of this prayer book has saturated English culture and letters. Here Alan Jacobs tells its story. Jacobs shows how The Book of Common Prayer--from its beginnings as a means of social and political control in the England of Henry VIII to its worldwide presence today--became a venerable work whose cadences express the heart of religious life for many. The book's chief maker, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, created it as the authoritative manual of Christian worship throughout England. But as Jacobs recounts, the book has had a variable and dramatic career in the complicated history of English church politics, and has been the focus of celebrations, protests, and even jail terms. As time passed, new forms of the book were made to suit the many English-speaking nations: first in Scotland, then in the new United States, and eventually wherever the British Empire extended its arm. Over time, Cranmer's book was adapted for different preferences and purposes. Jacobs vividly demonstrates how one book became many--and how it has shaped the devotional lives of men and women across the globe.
What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared about: A Survey of Jesus' Bible
Jason S. DeRouchie - 2013
As a complementary volume to the previously published What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About (Kregel Academic, 2008), it is well-suited for use in a college, seminary, or church context. Students of the Bible will find this full-color textbook accessible and engaging.What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About is gospel-centered, portraying the Old Testament as the foundation for a fulfillment found in the New Testament. Each chapter is written by an Old Testament scholar who is a skilled teacher at one of the finest evangelical schools across North America and specializes in the biblical book covered. Readers will find: - Introductory issues (who, when, where, why) condensed to one-page snapshots of essential information at the beginning of each chapter- The clarity of the biblical message enhanced through nearly two hundred high-resolution photographs, over eighty charts and tables, and twelve color maps- Very readable text, appropriate for broad audiences- A format simpler and intentionally shorter than many other surveys, making it a very manageable textbook for a single semester Old Testament survey course or a useful guide to accompany devotional reading of Scripture
True Word for Tough Times
Dale Ralph Davis - 2013
The passages chosen are a healthy corrective to some of the flippant and flimsy optimism in certain 'Christian' propaganda about the Christian life and ministry.
The City of God: Books 1-10 (I/6)
Augustine of Hippo - 2013
Augustine’s most influential work. In the context of what begins as a lengthy critique of classic Roman religion and a defense of Christianity, Augustine touches upon numerous topics, including the role of grace, the original state of humanity, the possibility of waging a just war, the ideal form of government, and the nature of heaven and hell. But his major concern is the difference between the City of God and the City of Man – one built on love of God, the other on love of self. One cannot but be moved and impressed by the author’s breadth of interest and penetrating intelligence. For all those who are interested in the greatest classics of Christian antiquity, The City of God is indispensible. This long-awaited translation by William Babcock is published in two volumes, with an introduction and annotation that make Augustine’s monumental work approachable. Books 1-10 are Augustine’s critique of Rome, of paganism, and of ancient philosophy.
Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship
John F. MacArthur Jr. - 2013
As a movement, it is clearly headed the wrong direction. And it is growing at an unprecedented rate.From the Word of Faith to the New Apostolic Reformation, the Charismatic movement is being consumed by the empty promises of the prosperity gospel. Too many charismatic celebrities promote a “Christianity” without Christ, a Holy Spirit without holiness. And their teaching is having a disastrous influence on a grand scale, as large television networks broadcast their heresies to every part of the world.In Strange Fire, MacArthur lays out a chilling case against the modern Charismatic movement that includes:Rejecting its false prophets.Speaking out against their errors.Showing true reverence to the Holy Spirit.Clinging to the Bible as the inerrant, authoritative Word of God and the one true standard by which all truth claims must be tested.