Download or read book Gather God s People written by Brian Croft and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2015-01-06 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Bible tells us that we are to worship the Lord, that we were created for this purpose. But what is true worship? What does the Bible teach about the right—and the wrong—ways to worship God? In this book, pastors Brian Croft and Jason Adkins unpack a biblical theology of worship, discuss the practical matters of planning a worship service, and offer suggestions and insights on the best way to lead a worship service that honors the Lord. The Practical Shepherding series of guides provides pastors and ministry leaders with practical help to do the work of pastoral ministry in a local church. In Gather God’s People, you will learn how to apply biblical doctrine and spirituality to the practice of Christian worship.
Download or read book Love Your Church written by Tony Merida and published by The Good Book Company. This book was released on 2021-06-01 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How to grow in love for your church. God calls us to be "devoted to one another in love" (Romans 12:10). What does this look like for us today? How can we be the kind of church member who makes a real difference? This engaging book by Tony Merida explores what church is, why being part of it is exciting, and why it’s worthy of our love and commitment. He sets out eight privileges and responsibilities of a church member: to belong, to welcome, to gather, to care, to serve, to honour, to witness and to send. As we see how wonderful it is to belong to God’s family and be a part of his amazing witness to both the earthly and the heavenly realms, we’ll grow in our love for and commitment to our local church. This is a great book for every churchgoer to read, whether they’re new or have been attending for some time but need re-energising with God’s vision for the local church. With a discussion guide at the end of the book, Love Your Church is also a great resource for small groups.
Download or read book Still Time to Care written by Greg Johnson and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2021-12-07 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the start of the gay rights movement in 1969, evangelicalism's leading voices cast a vision for gay people who turn to Jesus. It was C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, Francis Schaeffer and John Stott who were among the most respected leaders within theologically orthodox Protestantism. We see with them a positive pastoral approach toward gay people, an approach that viewed homosexuality as a fallen condition experienced by some Christians who needed care more than cure. With the birth and rise of the ex-gay movement, the focus shifted from care to cure. As a result, there are an estimated 700,000 people alive today who underwent conversion therapy in the United States alone. Many of these patients were treated by faith-based, testimony-driven parachurch ministries centered on the ex-gay script. Despite the best of intentions, the movement ended with very troubling results. Yet the ex-gay movement died not because it had the wrong sex ethic. It died because it was founded on a practice that diminished the beauty of the gospel. Yet even after the closure of the ex-gay umbrella organization Exodus International in 2013, the ex-gay script continues to walk about as the undead among us, pressuring people like me to say, "I used to be gay, but I'm not gay anymore. Now I'm just same-sex attracted." For orthodox Christians, the way forward is a path back to where we were forty years ago. It is time again to focus with our Neo-Evangelical fathers on care--not cure--for our non-straight sisters and brothers who are living lives of costly obedience to Jesus. With warmth and humor as well as original research, Still Time to Care will chart the path forward for our churches and ministries in providing care. It will provide guidance for the gay person who hears the gospel and finds themselves smitten by the life-giving call of Jesus. Woven throughout the book will be Richard Lovelace’s 1978 call for a "double repentance" in which gay Christians repent of their homosexual sins and the church repents of its homophobia--putting on display for all the power of the gospel.
Download or read book Gospel Principles written by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This book was released on 1997 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Study Guide and a Teacher’s Manual Gospel Principles was written both as a personal study guide and as a teacher’s manual. As you study it, seeking the Spirit of the Lord, you can grow in your understanding and testimony of God the Father, Jesus Christand His Atonement, and the Restoration of the gospel. You can find answers to life’s questions, gain an assurance of your purpose and self-worth, and face personal and family challenges with faith.
Download or read book True Worshipers written by Bob Kauflin and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2015-09-01 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everyone worships. But Jesus tells us that God is seeking a particular kind of worshiper. In True Worshipers, a seasoned pastor and musician guides readers toward a more engaging, transformative, and biblically faithful understanding of the worship God is seeking. True worship is an activity rooted in the grace of the gospel that affects every area of our lives. And while worship is more than just singing, God’s people gathering in his presence to lift their voices in song is an activity that is biblically based, historically rooted, and potentially life-changing. Thoroughly based in Scripture and filled with practical guidance, this book connects Sunday worship to the rest of our lives—helping us live as true worshipers each and every day.
Download or read book The Most Misused Verses in the Bible written by Eric J. Bargerhuff and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2012-05-01 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: High-Interest Guide Sure to Spark Curiosity and Conversation A surprising number of well-known Bible verses are commonly misused and misunderstood. Whether intentionally or not, people take important verses out of context, and pastor and Bible scholar Eric J. Bargerhuff has seen the effects: confusion, faulty decisions, sin being dismissed, and more. With a deft touch, he helps readers understand and apply sound principles of interpretation and application of twenty familiar verses. This concise high-interest approach appeals to the curious as well as readers concerned about incorrect theology.
Download or read book Taste and See written by Margaret Feinberg and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2019-01-22 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Join Margaret Feinberg, one of America's most beloved teachers and writers, as she sets out on a remarkable journey to unearth God's perspective on food. What you discover will forever change the way you read the Bible--and approach every meal. This groundbreaking book provides a culinary exploration of Scripture. You'll descend 400 feet below ground into the frosty white caverns of a salt mine, fish on the Sea of Galilee, bake fresh matzo at Yale University, ferry to a remote island in Croatia to harvest olives, spend time with a Texas butcher known as "the meat apostle," and wander a California farm with one of the world's premier fig farmers. With each stop, Margaret asks, "How do you read these Scriptures, not as theologians, but in light of what you do every day?" Taste and See teaches us that: As we break bread, we find the satisfaction of our deepest hungers in the community our souls crave As we share our lives, we taste and see God's fruitfulness When we're tempted to lose heart--and we all will be--we find courage in listening to and participating in stories of God's rescuing ways In the midst of a busy life, we can all create space to taste and see God's goodness Taste and See is a delicious read that includes dozens of recipes for those who, like Margaret, believe some of life's richest moments are spent savoring a meal with those you love. See you around the table! Praise for Taste and See: "Margaret Feinberg's appetite for the feast of His grace makes you hunger for more of a fulfilling life. Read and taste the richest food for the soul!" --Ann Voskamp, bestselling author of WayMaker and One Thousand Gifts "Margaret is a storyteller who never ceases to see the beauty of the world around us. If you love God, good food, and life around the table, this book will take you on an unforgettable culinary journey through the Bible." --Jennie Allen, bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head and founder of IF:Gathering
Download or read book Gathering at God s Table written by Katharine Jefferts Schori and published by SkyLight Paths Publishing. This book was released on 2012 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A profound reminder of our role in God's vision for a restored and reconciled world. "The work before us--this mission of God's--is immense, cosmic, even. The world is hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, lonely, imprisoned and enslaved--because some parts are. The creation is groaning in travail because of our abuse of the garden in which we have been set. The body is ailing. Participating in God's mission is about seeing and responding to that collective suffering, and beginning to understand our interconnection with the other parts of the body." --from the Introduction In the Christian tradition, believers are called to do more than sit around and pray. Throughout the Gospel--and throughout history--people of faith have been quite literally booted out into the world to bring God's love to everybody, not just a select few. That's the meaning of mission--from the Latin verb mitto, meaning, "to send." It is the work that Jesus and his disciples set out to do--feeding, healing and teaching. In an insightful and powerful voice, Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, explores the meaning of mission in the context of contemporary life, reminding us of the Anglican Communion's Five Marks of Mission: Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom Teach, Baptize and Nurture New Believers Respond to Human Need with Loving Service Seek to Transform Unjust Structures of Society Strive to Safeguard the Integrity of Creation, and Sustain and Renew the Life of the Earth
Download or read book Holy Bible NIV written by Various Authors, and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2008-09-02 with total page 6637 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.
Download or read book Deacons written by Matt Smethurst and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2021-03-30 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How Can Deacons Mobilize Service in the Church? Deacons are essential to a church's health—yet confusion abounds regarding their biblical job description. What's their God-given role in a local congregation and how do they relate to the church's overall mission? In this short book, Matt Smethurst makes the case that deacons are model servants called to meet tangible needs, organize and mobilize acts of service, preserve the unity of the flock, and support the ministry of the elders. Clearing away common misconceptions, Smethurst offers practical guidance for deploying deacons and helping churches to flourish.
Download or read book The Practice of the Presence of God written by Brother Lawrence and published by Hyweb Technology Co. Ltd.. This book was released on 2011-10-15 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book One Assembly written by Jonathan Leeman and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2020-03-26 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many churches are switching to the multisite or multiservice models to manage crowded sanctuaries due to growing attendance. This solution seems sensible in the short term, but too often churches adopt this model without taking into consideration what the Bible says about it. Illuminating the importance of physical togetherness as a way to protect the gospel, this book argues that maintaining a single assembly best embodies the unity the church possesses in Jesus Christ. Jonathan Leeman considers a series of biblical, theological, and pastoral arguments that ask us to stop and examine intuitions or assumptions about what a church is. He reorients our minds to a biblical definition of church, offering examples of churches that have thrived with a single service at a single site and compelling alternatives for those looking to solve the complications that come with a growing church.
Download or read book Principles for the Gathering of Believers Under the Headship of Jesus Christ written by Gospel Fellowships Staff and published by . This book was released on 2013-06-08 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "These principles can benefit any believer... Whether you're a small group starting a church or a large body of believers, these timeless truths can impact all facets of Christianity."- Shane Idleman, pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship With over 30,000 registered denominations world-wide, the Church is fractured and split into so many groups. There is a need for brothers and sisters to come together to meet under Christ's Lordship and to obey Christ's call to discipleship and evangelisation of the world. We don't need more church buildings; we need the kind of true fellowship of the Body of Christ as in the Early Church. Do you want to be fruitful in your walk with Jesus Christ and lead others to become disciples? We invite you to prayerfully consider meeting in this way. It does not necessarily mean you need to leave the Church you attend but you would commit to meet during the week with other like-minded believers from all different denominational backgrounds. Gospel Fellowships are fellowships of like-minded believers in Jesus Christ meeting together in autonomous groups of 2-3 or more on a weekly basis.
Download or read book Gathering Stones written by Sara Berry and published by Morgan James Faith. This book was released on 2022-02-08 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book God Encounter written by Lisa Tawn Bergren and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2002 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "God Encounter" is a prayer book that leads readers through biblically based meditations utilizing fiction techniques and imaginative, allegorical settings, a creative approach combining the ancient spiritual practice of meditation with the contemporary use of visualization.
Download or read book Teachings of Presidents of the Church Brigham Young written by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This book was released on with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The prophet Brigham Young taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in a basic, practical way that gave inspiration and hope to the Saints struggling to build a home in the wilderness. Though more than a century has now passed, his words are still fresh and appropriate for us today as we continue the work of building the kingdom of God. President Young declared that as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we possess the “doctrine of life and salvation for all the honest-in-heart” (DBY, 7). He promised that those who receive the gospel in their hearts will have awakened “within them a desire to know and understand the things of God more than they ever did before in their lives” and will begin to “inquire, read and search and when they go to their Father in the name of Jesus he will not leave them without a witness” (DBY, 450). This book reflects the desire of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to deepen the doctrinal understanding of Church members and to awaken within them a greater desire to know the things of God. It will inspire and motivate individuals, priesthood quorums, and Relief Society classes to inquire, read, search, and then go to their Father in Heaven for a witness of the truth of these teachings. Each chapter contains two sections—“Teachings of Brigham Young” and “Suggestions for Study.” The first section consists of extracts from Brigham Young’s sermons to the early Saints. Each statement has been referenced, and the original spelling and punctuation have been preserved; however, the sources cited will not be readily available to most members. These original sources are not necessary to have in order to effectively study or teach from this book. Members need not purchase additional references and commentaries to study or teach these chapters. The text provided in this book, accompanied by the scriptures, is sufficient for instruction. Members should prayerfully read and study President Young’s teachings in order to gain new insights into gospel principles and discover how those principles apply to their everyday lives. By faithfully and prayerfully studying these selections, Latter-day Saints will have a greater understanding of gospel principles and will more fully appreciate the profound and inspired teachings of this great prophet. The second section of each chapter offers a series of questions that will encourage thoughtful contemplation, personal application, and discussion of President Young’s teachings. Members should refer to and carefully reread his words on the principle being discussed. Deep and prayerful study of these teachings will inspire members to greater personal commitment and will help them resolve to follow the teachings of the Savior, Jesus Christ. If individuals and families prayerfully follow the principles in this book, they will be blessed and inspired to greater dedication and spirituality, as were the early Saints who heard these words directly from the lips of the “Lion of the Lord” (HC, 7:434)—the prophet, seer, and revelator, President Brigham Young.
Download or read book The Great Gathering of the Gods written by Sufani M. Garza and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2007-11 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: He watched the black glow of what used to be the sun coming up and felt at peace. He was not overwhelmed with the challenge at hand. Perhaps, it had something to do with that feeling he had carried with him all his life. He had been lonely in his life many times, but never had he felt alone. He had always felt a higher purpose was guiding his steps and protecting his way. When he needed protecting he had been protected, when he felt anxiety, his soul was quieted and if he became haughty, he was humbled. The prayers had gone out all over the world and all the people of the world had petitioned their gods, philosophers and shamans for help. It was the "appointed time." This week would be all mankind had to prove that they were worthy of survival. It was his aim to help the gods see that unity could only come if they themselves could achieve understanding, not just of the world's problems, but to reach understanding of each other. He wondered if a god could learn. Could a god learn to change? As he thought these very thoughts, the gods, honored ones, even the demons, were entering the sanctuary. Things would never be the same after this day and week that would follow. It would challenge every rule in the game of life. Many of the gods had never set eyes on the other. What would transpire while they were together could be either inspiring or detrimental to the future of mankind. The Vajra building had been the chosen venue for the gathering because of its historical inspiration. Many wonderful things had happened at the Vajra, and Satya knew its symbolic meaning. He put on his white linen clothes and opened the door to his room. The council received him and escorted him to the elevator. They ascended to the top floor, the Highest High to the luxury view of the Vajra building. He thought back and remembered the news when the first black American president was announced from the Vajra building. It wasn't long after that when the first woman president was elected as well. Third World countries filled with their starving were freed from scarcity and taught to help themselves from this building. But unfortunately the teachings failed later because they were not applied with compassion for all. Men and women who sat in the very room to which he was headed and strategically planned a way to help the world's people had brought down dictators. For those reasons and so many more it could have been said, this is why the Vajra was chosen. But that would have been vanity and also incorrect. It had been chosen for one reason only, for what the Vajra meant and stood for. The word Vajra had a double meaning. It meant Thunderbolt and Diamond. The word Vajra connoted immutability and something unbreakable. As he anticipated that what would be discussed during the week would shake their foundations like thunder, the diamond beneath would be revealed, the answer would be immutable and it would not break the gods. They would not be broken if their spirit of goodness was as strong as he believed it to be. Satya had faith, he believed and he was ready. The men walked him down the burgundy red corridor, six on either side of him, and when they got to the Double Black Doors they stopped. One of the twelve turned to him and handed him a scroll. He opened it and looked down to see what it contained. It read as follows: Divine Attendance Record Book of Names Xipe Totec, Agni, Durga, Ganesa, Ganga hanuman, Himalaya, Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Jehovah, Yahweh, Allah, Muhammad, Krishna, Buddha, Shakti, Shiva, Vishnu, Ezili Freda, Ezeli Danto, Papa Legba, Gede, Mahakala, Maitraya, Heruka, Hayagriva, Avatar, Brahma, Maya, Siva, Yama, Lakshmi, Sati, Aditi, Parvati, Kali, Manasa, Manu, Mitra, Nandi, Nataraja, Uma, Prajapati, Purusha, Radha, Rama, Ramachandra, Saraswati, Shashti, Trimurti, Soma, Quan-Yin, Ksitigarbha, Lingham, Lao-Tzu, Pa Hsien, Tsao, Shen, Ch' eng Huang, Men Shen, Confucius, Iza
