Download or read book The Good and Beautiful God written by James Bryan Smith and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2009-12-14 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over 250,000 Sold Worldwide! "God wants me to try harder." "God blesses me when I'm good and punishes me when I'm bad." "God is angry with me." We all have ideas that we tell ourselves about God and how he works in our lives. Some are true—but many are false. James Bryan Smith believes those thoughts determine not only who we are, but how we live. In fact, Smith declares, the most important thing about a person is what they think about God. The path to spiritual transformation begins here. Turning to the Gospels, Smith invites you to put your ideas to the test to see if they match up with what Jesus himself reveals about God. Once you've discovered the truth in Scripture, Smith leads you through a process of spiritual formation that includes specific activities aimed at making these new narratives real in your body and soul as well as your mind. At the end of each chapter you'll find an opportunity for soul training, engaging in spiritual practices that reinforce the biblical messages on your mind and heart. Because the best way to make a complete and lasting change is to go through the material in community, small group discussion questions also accompany each chapter. This deep, loving and transformative book will help you discover the narratives that Jesus lived by—to know the Lord he knew and the kingdom he proclaimed—and to practice spiritual exercises that will help you grow in the knowledge of our good and beautiful God. The Good and Beautiful Series includes four essential discipleship books from James Bryan Smith. Work through these proven Bible study resources individually or with a group to learn who God is, what it means to be a Christian, how to live in community, and how to address toxic self-narratives that hinder spiritual growth.

Download or read book Theology for the Community of God written by Stanley J. Grenz and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 2000-01-31 with total page 1051 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This proven systematic theology represents the very best in evangelical theology. Stanley Grenz presents the traditional themes of Christian doctrine -- God, humankind, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the church, and the last things--all within an emphasis on God's central program for creation, namely, the establishment of community. Masterfully blending biblical, historical, and contemporary concerns, Grenz's respected work provides a coherent vision of the faith that is both intellectually satisfying and expressible in Christian living. Available for the first time in paperback.

Download or read book Paul the Spirit and the People of God written by Gordon D. Fee and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2023-01-24 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This contemporary classic by renowned scholar Gordon Fee explores the Spirit's significant role in Pauline life and thought. After Fee published his magisterial God's Empowering Presence, he was asked to write a more accessible volume that would articulate Paul's priorities for experiencing the life of the Spirit in the church. Fee's bestselling introduction to Paul and the Spirit, Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God, went on to sell over 70,000 copies. This book by one of the greatest evangelical and Pentecostal New Testament interpreters of our time argues that the presence of the Spirit is, for Paul and for us, the crucial matter for the Christian life. This repackaged edition features an updated design and packaging, new study questions, and a foreword by Dean Pinter, who commends the book to a new generation of readers.

Download or read book Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered written by James C. Wilhoit and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2022-03-29 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most books on spiritual formation focus on the individual. But spiritual formation is at the heart of the church's whole purpose for existence. It must be a central task for the church to carry out Christ's mission in the world. This book offers an introduction to spiritual formation set squarely in the local church. The first edition has been well received and widely used as a textbook. The second edition has been updated throughout, incorporates findings from positive psychology, and reflects an Augustinian formation perspective. Foreword by Dallas Willard.

Download or read book Jesus and the Spirit written by James D. G. Dunn and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 1997-06-11 with total page 532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explores the religious experiences of Jesus, Paul, and the early church with special emphasis on the Holy Spirit and charismatic experiences.

Download or read book Open to the Spirit written by Scot McKnight and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2018-04-03 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: World-renowned New Testament scholar offers a straightforward examination of what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit. Who exactly is the Holy Spirit? What does he do in our lives? How can we know him more deeply, and is it possible to tap into his power? Should we pray to the Holy Spirit? Is it possible to be aware of his promptings and speaking into our lives? Dr. Scot McKnight answers these questions and more in this comprehensive examination of what the Bible says about this divinely important, but often confusing member of the Trinity. This is the third work in a three-part series examining some of the more mysterious components of the Christian faith. Scot's The Heaven Promise examines the afterlife. The Hum of Angels elucidates the Bible's teaching on God's supernatural messengers and protectors. Now, Open to the Spirit examines the most mysterious member of the Trinity. Scot blogs at Patheos, a large multi-perspective blog format. It serves many influential voices from many faith and non-faith traditions. Scot's blog draws primarily a Christian readership; one that is looking for intellectual engagement and thoughtful analysis of Scripture, Theology, and Culture.

Download or read book Spirit of God written by Jeffrey W. Barbeau and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2015-03-06 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While the age of the Holy Spirit began with Pentecost, the twentieth century has seen an explosion in the Spirit's work through the remarkable growth of Pentecostalism and the changing face of global Christianity. Despite these surprising developments, and the undeniable significance of the Holy Spirit throughout the life of the church, pneumatology too often remains a subject of misunderstanding and neglect. These essays, gathered from the 2014 Wheaton Theology Conference, provide an ecumenical exploration of the Holy Spirit?s person and work in biblical, historical, doctrinal and practical perspective. In addition to essays on Augustine, Aquinas, creation and salvation, the volume features important contributions on the current shape of global Pentecostalism by leading scholars in the field. This collection includes contributions by: Estrelda Y. Alexander Allan Heaton Anderson Jeffrey W. Barbeau Oliver D. Crisp Timothy George Gregory W. Lee Matthew Levering Douglas Petersen Sandra Richter Kevin J. Vanhoozer Geoffrey Wainwright Michael Welker Amos Yong Beth Felker Jones

Download or read book The Good and Beautiful Community written by James Bryan Smith and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2010-07-21 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this Good and Beautiful Series book, James Bryan Smith helps us know how to live in relationship with others as apprentices of Jesus. "Apprentices of Jesus are not part-time do-gooders," he writes. "They live in continuous contact with the kingdom of God, and are constantly men and women in whom Christ dwells. They do not sometimes tell the truth, sometimes live sacrificially or sometimes forgive. There are myriad opportunities for us to impact the world in which we live." Yet many times we've gotten it wrong, tending to emphasize personal faith over social justice or vice versa. In these pages Jim Smith shows us how to bring spiritual formation and community engagement together, and then once again offers spiritual practices that root new, true narratives about God and the world in our souls. His insight and humility as a fellow learner with us will lead us to live in authentic ways as a good and beautiful community of Christ-followers, shining the light of the Spirit into every relationship. The Good and Beautiful Series includes four essential discipleship books from James Bryan Smith. Work through these proven Bible study resources individually or with a group to learn who God is, what it means to be a Christian, how to live in community, and how to address toxic self-narratives that hinder spiritual growth.

Download or read book The Practice of the Presence of God written by Brother Lawrence and published by BEYOND BOOKS HUB. This book was released on 2024-02-12 with total page 3 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Practice of the Presence of God is a spiritual classic written by Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century Carmelite monk. This small but impactful work is a compilation of letters and conversations attributed to Brother Lawrence, offering profound insights into cultivating a continuous awareness of the presence of God in everyday life.

Download or read book A Guide to Christian Spiritual Formation written by Evan B. Howard and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2018-01-16 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Evan Howard, a noted authority on Christian spirituality, provides a holistic, accessible, and informed introduction to Christian spiritual formation written from a broadly evangelical perspective. Howard joins Scripture with themes of community, spirit, formation, and mission in a single integrative guide. The book includes helpful features such as figures, charts, chapter overviews, and formation-focused questions. Its evangelical-ecumenical and global perspectives will appeal to a wide audience. Resources for professors and students are available through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources.

Download or read book It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian written by Tod E. Bolsinger and published by Brazos Press. This book was released on 2004-04 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rediscover the triune nature of God to reawaken and nourish a communal spirit in our individualist times.

Download or read book The Essence of the Church written by Craig Van Gelder and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2000-05-01 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This fresh perspective on the church explores its essential nature as a community of people governed by the Word and led and taught by the Spirit.

Download or read book Spiritual Practices in Community written by Diana Shiflett and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2018-12-11 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Diana Shiflett has been leading groups of all descriptions in spiritual practices for many years, and she understands the difficulties involved: the potential for awkwardness and self-doubt, the nagging question of whether anyone's getting anything out of this at all. But more than that, she understands the value of spiritual practices: their deep roots in the history and worship of God's people, and their ability to calm our distracted minds and hearts so we are ready to hear the voice of Jesus. In this personal, hands-on guide, Shiflett walks us through a wide array of spiritual practices, from communal silence and Scripture meditation to active prayer and corporate discernment. She proves a reliable guide, offering step-by-step instructions, pointing out hazards and pitfalls, and sharing her own experiences with honesty and humor. With this book as a guide, these spiritual practices can become life-giving resources in your ministry setting for years to come.

Download or read book Life Together written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 1978-10-25 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After his martyrdom at the hands of the Gestapo in 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer continued his witness in the hearts of Christians around the world. His Letters and Papers from Prison became a prized testimony to Christian faith and courage, read by thousands. Now in Life Together we have Pastor Bonhoeffer's experience of Christian community. This story of a unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Nazi years reads like one of Paul's letters. It gives practical advice on how life together in Christ can be sustained in families and groups. The role of personal prayer, worship in common, everyday work, and Christian service is treated in simple, almost biblical, words. Life Together is bread for all who are hungry for the real life of Christian fellowship.

Download or read book Life Together in Christ written by Ruth Haley Barton and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2014-10-30 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Best Book of Spiritual Formation, from Byron Borger, Hearts and Minds Bookstore Have you joined a church or small group in hopes of experiencing real life change, only to be disappointed? Have you sat through inspiring sermons about what is possible when Christians gather together in mutually edifying relationships, only to recognize how cynical you have become after many failed attempts? Community may be one of the most over-promised, under-delivered aspects of the Christian life today. Individuals remain selfish and stuck in their ways. Communities become spiritually lifeless or even fall apart because we don't know how to experience transformation together. Transforming community does not come primarily from listening to inspiring preaching or adding another church program. It emerges as we embrace a shared commitment to the attitudes, practices and behaviors that open us to Christ in our midst. And that's where Life Together in Christ comes in. Reflecting on the story of the two disciples who meet Christ on the Emmaus Road, Ruth Haley Barton offers this interactive guide for small groups of spiritual companions who are ready to encounter Christ in transforming ways—right where they are on the road of real life.

Download or read book Together written by Larry Duggins and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2017-05-05 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Together: Community as a Means of Grace addresses the concept of community as an avenue to a deeper relationship with God. Using an ecumenical Wesleyan approach, Duggins explores the concept of "God as community" to conclude that bringing people together in almost any setting allows them to grow in God's image. He frames this idea using the historical concept of the "means of grace": the ordinary ways in which people encounter God. Drawing heavily on the work of the Missional Wisdom Foundation, Duggins begins with a reflection on the community-building aspects of traditional church. He then uses storytelling to introduce four common forms of community: community through work, community through food, community through children's schools and activities, and community through shared recreational activities. Together is intended to help Christian people embrace the freedom to experiment with alternative forms of Christian community. Duggins nudges the missional imagination of people who long for spiritual connection and growth, but for whom traditional church is not the answer. Using a "yes, and" approach, he shows that traditional church can empower and stand alongside new forms of community, each of which can act as a means of grace.

Download or read book The Community of the Spirit written by C. Norman Kraus and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2008-03-01 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A revised edition of this classic work by C. Norman Kraus. Key material from another influential book, The Authentic Witness, is incorporated and a new chapter is added.Repeatedly Kraus stresses the key point: the good news of the gospel is not that all will be well in the future. The good news is that the Spirit of God is among us now. He asks the church to become a dynamic "God Movement" by opening itself to this now-present Spirit.