Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You've Only Heard About


Darren Whitehead - 2011
     We live like slaves to our fast-paced, suffocating schedules.  We spend our energy and time in triviality, relegating God to the background.  He seems distant to us, and we resist the idea that God wants to give, say, and show us more; we dismiss it as rumor.  But Jesus calls us to a better way.  Another dream- an unimagined future.  Close the gap between what you hear about and what you see.Rumors is filled with the same forward-thinking spirit that defines its authors, Jon Tyson and Darren Whitehead. ?Louie Giglio, pastor, Passion City ChurchBoth challenging and encouraging, Rumors of God will reintroduce you to a God worth talking about. ?Gabe Lyons, author, The Next Christians, founder, Q, coauthor, UnChristianThis book invites us to find the rumors of God all around us.  Read it, but be ready to be changed. ?Scot McKnight, author, One.Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow and Jesus Creed for StudentsFor those who are jaded by the church, or have become cynical about the power of the Gospel in our time, Rumors of God is a great antidote. ?Alan Hirsch, author, dreamer, activist (www.theforgottenways.org)Foreword by Bill Hybels, founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., and chairman of the board for the Willow Creek Association. The irony: two upstart Aussies from tiny towns half a world away wind up leading high impact churches in two of the most significant cities in North America.  Only God.Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson are deep thinking Christ followers with a bias for action in the world.  A rare combination these days.  They are both leaders and communicators, visionaries and "get stuff done for God" guys.  Extremely rare.I have had the privilege of working closely with Darren at Willow Creek Community Church for over 7 years.  He is thoughtful, relationally intelligent and one of the hardest working young leaders I know.In Rumors of God, Darren and Jon have some how succeeded in slipping 3D glasses over our eyes.  The results are that passages from scripture come alive in ways that will impact readers for a long time. I salute the efforts of these young mates and pray that readers will be as stretched in their minds and hearts as I have been.

Prevail: Discover Your Strength in Hard Places


Cindy Trimm - 2015
    Sometimes life feels like a roller coaster ride filled with ups, downs, twists, turns, and unexpected sudden drops. Instead of moving forward with peace and purpose, our lives spin out of control. When chaos and uncertainty threaten to make you feel helpless . . . what do you do? Don’t let life’s detours take you for a ride. Get back in the driver’s seat! In Prevail, life strategist, Dr. Cindy Trimm, reveals how you can turn problems into opportunities so no pitfall will throw you off course. Discover how you can: See your current challenges asdoorways to new levels of success Break through barriers that keep you from enjoying life and loving the real you Develop a winning perspective that positions you to prosper Wake up every morning with a sense of meaning, purpose, dignity, and hope Your success, fulfillment, satisfaction, and destiny await you on the other side of your struggles, fears, setbacks, and disappointments. In the same way that a diamond is brought to beauty through immense stress, your true strength of character, worth, and value are found by embracing the prospering power inherent in your problems. You are tougher than your tough times.

To Live Is Christ to Die Is Gain


Matt Chandler - 2013
    While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith. In this disruptively inspiring book, Chandler offers tangible ways to develop a faith of pursuing, chasing, knowing, and loving Jesus. Because if we clean up our lives but don't get Jesus, we've lost! So let the goal be Him. To live is Christ, to die is gain—this is the message of the letter. Therefore, our lives should be lived to Him, through Him, for Him, with Him, about Him—everything should be about Jesus.

When Women Walk Alone: Finding Strength and Hope Through the Seasons of Life


Cindi McMenamin - 2002
    Cindi McMenamin, author of Heart Hunger, offers personal encouragement and practical, biblical steps for gaining strength in times of isolation and becoming resilient to, not resentful toward, loneliness.Cindi's audience for Women Who Walk Alone is a broad one--single women, women parenting alone, women alone as the spiritual head of their household, women facing challenging life situations, women without close friendships. And her message is timely--every woman feels alone at some point in her life, yet every woman needs someone to grow alongside her and to encourage her in her walk with the Lord.When Women Walk Alone encourages readers to see alone times as unique opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Women will discover practical ways to...find support from other women who feel alone in their lives celebrate their own uniqueness and grow through the lonely times gain strength for the challenges of parenting alone funnel "loneliness in prayer" into "a new power in prayer alone with God" rely on the Lord and others to overcome personal trialsUsing examples of biblical and contemporary women who emerged from a time of loneliness stronger and more complete, Cindi also looks at the example of Jesus and the many times He was alone or sought out some "alone time" to draw strength from His Father.

A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study: A Refreshingly Unique Look at God's Word


Jen Hatmaker - 2006
    Written specifically for today's busy women, this book offers user-friendly advice on how to get the most from personal Bible study time.Transform the academic nature of Bible study into a fresh, simple format that will radically change the way you interact with Scripture forever.This great leader's resource can be used with the Modern Girl's Bible Study series or as a tool for discipleship ministry.

Jesus Came to Save Sinners: An Earnest Conversation with Those Who Long for Salvation and Eternal Life


Charles Haddon Spurgeon - 1892
    Every excuse, reason, and roadblock for not coming to Christ is examined and duly dealt with. If you think you may be too bad, or if perhaps you really are bad and you sin either openly or behind closed doors, you will discover that life in Christ is for you too. You can reject the message of salvation by faith, or you can choose to live a life of sin after professing faith in Christ, but you cannot change the truth as it is, either for yourself or for others. As such, it behooves you and your family to embrace truth, claim it for your own, and be genuinely set free for now and eternity. Come, and embrace this free gift of God, and live a victorious life for Him. About the Author Charles Haddon (C. H.) Spurgeon (1834-1892) was a British Baptist preacher. He started preaching at age 19, and quickly became famous. He is still known as the “Prince of Preachers,” and frequently had more than 10,000 people present to hear him preach at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. His sermons were printed in newspapers, translated into many languages, and published in many books.

Mastering Life Before It's Too Late: 10 Biblical Strategies for a Lifetime of Purpose


Robert J. Morgan - 2015
    Originally published: Nashville, TN: Howard Books, 2015.

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God


Francis Chan - 2008
    The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you've verbalized it yet or not, we all know something's wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts-it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything. Learn more about Crazy Love at www.crazylovebook.com

Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood: An Eleven-Week Devotional Bible Study


Melissa B. Kruger - 2015
    Really busy. Whether you’re zipping from your children’s piano lessons to their next ballgame or nursing a baby while comforting a toddler, life is brimming with activities. Yet one encounter can help shape every moment: time in the Word with Jesus. In Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood, you’ll learn how to nourish your own heart, mind, and soul with the wisdom you need to become the mother you long to be. As you spend time with God through this eleven-week Bible study, you’ll gain life-shaping insights to help you…· Understand and pursue your purpose as a mother· Live out your true priorities· Entrust your child to God· Bear the fruit of the Spirit in your everyday interactions· Recover from Perfect Mom Syndrome (PMS)Each week offers four days of study geared specifically to a mother’s concerns, with the Bible passages already printed out for your convenience. The fifth day is a warm-hearted devotional reading to help you reflect on and apply the truths you’ve learned. As your relationship with God deepens through prayer and studying His Word, you’ll discover how His imprint on your heart can make a lasting impression on your children.

Women Who Move Mountains: Praying with Confidence, Boldness, and Grace


Sue Detweiler - 2017
    We want to live and love well; we want to be a source of joy and life. The good news is that you can--and the secret is found in the simple act of prayer. Prayer was never meant to be a recitation of requests, but rather a drawing close to the heart of God. When you learn to exchange the obstacles of life for the promises of God, you will pray with passion and confidence rather than fear or insecurity. From this place of surrender and intimacy, you will discover what it means to become a powerful, effective woman of prayer--a woman whose life overflows with springs of living water that transform not only her own life, but the world around her. With study questions and journaling exercises included, this is the perfect book to go deeper either on your own or with a group.

Attitudes of a Transformed Heart


Martha Peace - 2001
    This low view of God is reflected in their attitudes about God, their attitudes about Scripture, and their attitudes of the heart. This book is about being "transformed by the renewing of your mind" and not being "conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). Your Heart is who you are on the inside. It is what you think, your motives, and your desires. Our hearts have been conformed to the world's way of thinking. Paul wrote, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2).If you have a teachable heart, Attitudes of a Transformed Heart will help you truly honor God by what you think. Study questions are at the end of each chapter.

The Covering: God's Plan to Protect You from Evil


Hank Hanegraaff - 2002
    Best-selling author Hank Hanegraaff describes God's protective covering over his children by dissecting Paul's words in Ephesians 6: 10-18 commanding us to put on the armor of God and "take our stand against the devil's schemes." Hanegraaff moves through the passage, phrase by phrase, defining God's armor, explaining what it means to embrace God's covering, and the practical ways God delivers us from evil.

The Prayer Dare: Take the Challenge That Will Transform Your Relationship With God


Ron Kincaid - 2011
    Through powerful daily "dares" or challenges, Ron Kincaid, pastor of Sunset Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon, guides readers not just to think or talk or read about prayer . . . but to actually pray. Individuals and small groups will gain confidence in their prayer lives, strengthen their understanding of prayer's purpose, and learn how to apply key scriptural principles of prayer to their everyday lives.The Prayer Dare is a practical, no-nonsense handbook that demonstrates concepts with relatable illustrations and then invites readers to engage in simple exercises to make the "dare" a personal reality. Journaling space is also provided to record practice and progress. Dares include "Don't Be Afraid to Ask," "Pray Like You Mean It," "Take God Seriously," and "Be Transparent." Each dare builds on the last, and as readers take the challenges one-by-one, they will begin to do something incredible: pray.

Authentic Relationships: Discover the Lost Art of "One Anothering"


Wayne Jacobsen - 2003
    Readers learn to apply New Testament principles that capture the essence of Jesus' teachings about effectively caring, serving, and loving one another. Beginning with God's simple command to "Love one another," this book shows how to: * develop deep, genuine friendships* model to others a relationship with Jesus* create meaningful interaction with strangers* avoid the pitfalls of judging others* show people love, acceptance, kindness, and respect Complete with discussion questions, this book is appropriate for both individuals and church groups. It is a must for all Christians who wish to practice being the church rather than merely attending one.

40 Days to Lasting Change: An AHA Challenge


Kyle Idleman - 2015
    Drawing on the example of the Prodigal Son, Idleman shows us why each of these three elements is essential to lasting spiritual transformation and gives us practical tools to live them out.