But sometimes Jesus spoke words that followers then and now have found difficult. He instructs disciples to hate members of their own families (Luke 14:26), to act as if they were slaves (Matthew 20:27), and to sell their belongings and give to the poor (Luke 18:22). He restricts his mission (Matthew 10:6); he speaks of damnation (Matthew 8:12); he calls Jews the devil's children (John 8:44).In The Difficult Words of Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine shows how these difficult teachings would have sounded to the people who first heard them, how have they been understood over time, and how we might interpret them in the context of the Gospel of love and reconciliation.Additional components for a six-week study include a DVD featuring Dr. Levine and a comprehensive Leader Guide.

    Through this provocative project, the founder of PreachersNSneakers is helping thousands of Jesus followers wrestle with the inevitable dilemmas created by a culture obsessed with image and entertainment.In PreachersNSneakers: 9 Questions to Help You Live Your Faith in an Age of Capitalism, Consumerism, and (Wannabe) Celebrity, the author boldly confronts many of the difficult questions plaguing countless Christians’ minds, such as:Should pastors grow wealthy off of religion, and why do we get so angry when they do?Is it okay to stoke envy among others with curated “lifestyle” images on social media?Do we really believe that divine blessings are monetary, or is that just religious wallpaper to hide our own greed?Is there space in Christendom for celebrities like Kanye and Bieber to exist without distorting the good news?What about this: Is it wrong for someone like this author to call out faith leaders online and leverage “cancel culture” to affect change?PreachersNSneakers will navigate these challenging questions and many more with humor, wit, candor, and a few never-before-published hijinks. Each chapter will explore the various sides of the debate, holding space for readers to make up their own minds. The book will doubtlessly become a staple for church small groups, college ministries, and book clubs, emboldening struggling believers who want to live a more genuine faith.After all, the Lord works in mysterious colorways.

    They are all sincere; they all had a story to tell and they attempted to share their experience to the best of their ability. They each have unique aspects even though they share some similarities. Some of these stories will likely resonate and encourage and inspire you. Some may be difficult to relate to or to understand; if that is the case, I would suggest you skip that particular story for the time being and move on to the next one.Perhaps the afterlife is revealed to us in such a way that allows each of us to understand and comprehend the process of passing in a way that we can accept. The uniqueness of each experience may be in part due to the individual; their ability to take in the awesomeness of such an event may be reflected in their memory of the event.In any case, these incidents are presented to the reader in the hopes that they will encourage and inspire; my hope is that you will find, as I did, a common theme within these experiences which seem to reflect the powerful love of God towards humanity, towards each one of us.

    You, too, are invited to reflect and discover your own divine encounter.You will learn how to see through Heaven’s eyes—through the Father’s eyes—and that look of love will transform everything, including:•God. •Yourself. •Other people. •Your family. •Your enemies. •The end times.   Seeing Through Heaven’s Eyes is powerfully presented and will bless and free you to experience a deeper relationship with Father God.

    An appendix includes a suggested plan for using each days meditation as part of a morning or evening prayer.Paperback

    Even as we do things as simple as light the candles, set the table, break the bread and pour the wine, we invite people into a holy moment.... The women [in this book] not only have a wellspring of deep wisdom, but they also have the ability to dish out their knowledge with side-aching humor.... I am thrilled that their great wisdom and intelligence will be bound into the pages that I can turn to, lend and appreciate for years to come."--from the Foreword by Rev. Carol Howard MerrittLearn--and laugh--with these women of the church, bound together by a deep commitment to ministry, as they reveal what it really means to be a woman in the pulpit. Over fifty clergywomen representing fourteen denominations share the details of their intimidating balancing act--juggling the isolating expectations of perfection from their congregations and the shared human realities of everyday life.Intended for laypeople, women hearing a call to ministry and clergy of all denominations, these stories and prayers will resonate with, challenge, encourage and amuse anyone who has a passion for their work and faith.Contributors: Rev. Jemma Allen - Rev. Denise Anderson - Rev. Stephanie Anthony - Rev. Amber Belldene - Rev. Beth Birkholz - Rev. Laurie Brock - Rev. Jennifer Garrison Brownell - Rev. Hilary Campbell - Rev. Erin Counihan - Rev. Julie Craig - Rev. Robin Craig - Rev. Liz Crumlish - Rev. Martha Daniels - Rev. Stacey Simpson Duke - Rev. Jan Edmiston - Rev. Ruth Everhart - Rev. Amy Fetterman - Rev. Marci Auld Glass - Rev. Rachel G. Hackenberg - Rev. Elizabeth Evans Hagan - Rev. Cheryl Harader - Rev. Joanna Harader - Gillian Hoyer - Rev. Rosalind C. Hughes - Rev. Sara Irwin - Rev. Kathryn Z. Johnston - Rev. Deborah Lewis - Rev. Jennifer Burns Lewis - Rev. Catherine MacDonald - Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan - Suzy Garrison Meyer - Rev. Karla Miller - Rev. Sarah E. Howe Miller, PhD - Rev. Holly S. Morrison - Rev. Katie Mulligan - Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott - Rev. Katya Ouchakof - Rev. Kerri Parker - Rev. Katherine Willis Pershey - Rev. Teri Peterson - Rev. Patricia J. Raube - Rev. Diane M. Roth - Rev. Anna Scherer - Rev. Julia Seymour - Rev. Monica Thompson Smith - Rev. Martha Spong - Rev. Sally-Lodge Teel - Rev. Sharon M. Temple - Rev. Michelle L. Torigian - Rev. Deb Vaughn - Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell - Rev. Julie Woods

    We hardly ever think of it as world-changing--and neither does society. Yet this is exactly what the first-century ekklesia was.In these vital, eye-opening pages, bestselling author Ed Silvoso takes you back to the first days of the church. Digging into Scripture, he shows how the New Testament church--devoid of buildings, professional clergy, and religious freedom--was able to transform the hostile, pagan places into which it was born and set in motion a process that changed the world forever.Even more, Silvoso offers a roadmap back to becoming the ekklesia Jesus called his church to be. In the midst of the social, economic, political, and moral chaos in our world today, we possess the hope that people and nations so desperately need--and we can become the revolutionary, transformational, life-giving voice Jesus called us to be.A new, in-depth curriculum kit--which features a DVD with 12 brand-new teaching sessions, a group guide for both leaders and participants, and a copy of the book--is also available. Expounding on the book's dynamic teachings, each kit contains everything you need to equip your group to transform the world around them.

    Conrad Mbewe, Pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church and Chancellor of the African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia If you want to survive and thrive in ministry, Croft and Savastio show you the way! Dr. Sean Michael Lucas, Senior Pastor, Independent Presbyterian Church (PCA), Memphis, Tennessee Croft and Savastio have written a desperately-needed volume for desperate times. …pastor, get this book and hear and heed its vital message. If you are not a pastor, read this book and learn how desperately your pastor(s) need your prayers and encouragement.” Jeff Robinson, Sr., Lead pastor, Christ Fellowship of Louisville and Senior Editor, The Gospel Coalition. …biblical, encouraging and practical. Every minister of the gospel will benefit from this thoughtful book. Robby Gallaty, Senior Pastor, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Founder, Replicate Ministries …this warm and lively book should prompt spiritual longevity and prosperity in God’s servants, and therefore help bring God’s blessings to those they serve. Jeremy Walker, Pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church; Author, A Portrait of Paul The Pastor's Soul serves the local church and the local church pastor very well. … The balance of consideration for both spiritual well-being and physical health is refreshing as well as convicting. Anthony Mathenia, Pastor of Christ Church, Radford

    In question-and-answer format, Polkinghorne and his collaborator Nicholas Beale offer their highly informed opinions about some of the most frequently asked of these questions. Readers can follow their own paths through the book, selecting questions that interest them and looking at the additional material if they choose. This unique book will help Christians clarify their beliefs regarding difficult issues and better face challenges--from within and from others--to their faith.

    How would you react?”   – Pope Francis, May, 2014 Pope Francis posed that question – without insisting on an answer! – to provoke deeper reflection about inclusiveness and diversity in the Church. But it's not the first time that question has been asked.Brother Guy Consolmagno and Father Paul Mueller hear questions like that all the time. They’re scientists at the Vatican Observatory, the official astronomical research institute of the Catholic Church. In Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? they explore a variety of questions at the crossroads of faith and reason: How do you reconcile the The Big Bang with Genesis? Was the Star of Bethlehem just a pious religious story or an actual description of astronomical events? What really went down between Galileo and the Catholic Church – and why do the effects of that confrontation still reverberate to this day? Will the Universe come to an end? And… could you really baptize an extraterrestrial?With humor, Brother Guy and Father Paul explore these questions and more over the course of six days of dialogue.

    

    Never offline, always within reach, we now wield in our hands a magic wand of technological power we have only begun to grasp. But it raises new enigmas, too. Never more connected, we seem to be growing more distant. Never more efficient, we have never been more distracted. Drawing from the insights of numerous thinkers, published studies, and his own research, writer Tony Reinke identifies twelve potent ways our smartphones have changed us—for good and bad. Reinke calls us to cultivate wise thinking and healthy habits in the digital age, encouraging us to maximize the many blessings, to avoid the various pitfalls, and to wisely wield the most powerful gadget of human connection ever unleashed.

    The soul is the key to our lives, binding our heart, our mind, and our spirit together. Shouldn't you get pretty clear on exactly what the soul is? And how to care for it? Taken from John Ortberg's book Soul Keeping, this booklet reveals what the soul's greatest need is, now and for eternity.Have you ever thought about why your soul is hurting and if that could be standing in the way of your spiritual growth? Ortberg writes that once your soul has been properly cared for, you will find your way back to God from hopelessness, depression, relationship struggles, and lack of fulfillment. Jesus said we could find rest for our souls. Ortberg points us in that direction.

    Increased turmoil in the Middle East. China and Russia’s presence in the Fertile Crescent. The exponentially increasing technological explosion. The rise of the Sodom and Gomorrah spirit. These are just a few prophetic fulfillments occurring in our day that point to significant biblical times to come. The Bible is 100 percent accurate in regards to the ancient prophecies—and ours is the first generation to see them converging. Meticulously documented with reliable sources and sound contextual biblical study, When the Lion Roars equips you to understand the gravity of the days in which we are living. In When the Lion Roars, discover what the Bible really says about… The unprecedented demonic outpouring of the Last Days, The spirit of the days of Noah, The connection of technology and prophecy fulfillment, The spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah, Apostasy in the Last Days' Church, Why Turkey is central to last days’ prophecy, Why Israel is the centerpiece of end time prophecy, The historical truth about Islam and ISIS, The Shemitah, The mystery of 666, How should Christians and the Church should respond to these prophetic times, And much more. We are living in intense but exciting times. We are living in prophetically unprecedented times. Be on guard; prepare your heart and mind. Make certain you have a biblically balanced understanding of our generation. Be ready with wisdom and perspective. We have been raised up “For such a time as this!” The Lion of God’s prophetic Word is roaring. Do you hear its call?

    There is no one like you on the planet. But your life has a common thread that is true of all people: you are wired for worship. Not just any worship, but for that of your Creator! That’s what this book is about—discovering your purpose and learning how to fulfill it. Geared for teenagers and college students, Wired is designed with pages that teach, challenge, and connect as you dig into Scripture and learn about your created purpose. This interactive student edition of The Air I Breathe includes a thirty-day worship experience as a guided personal journey that discloses the depth of God’s character and how to know Him more intimately. Ideal for use in small groups, an accompanying leader’s guide is also available. Story Behind the Book“I love teenagers. In fact, while writing this, I’m on my way to spend four days with more than 1500 of them at camp! My passion to see young people awaken to a lifestyle of worship that goes far beyond singing songs, coupled with the need for small-group material, stimulated the idea for Wired. I want to equip youth workers with a resource that can be used in small groups, large Bible studies, or Sunday school classes. I pray that Wired will encourage teens everywhere to a lifestyle that reflects God’s greatness to the world.” —Louie Giglio