Download or read book Let Us Become Friends of Jesus written by Pope Benedict XVI and published by The Word Among Us Press. This book was released on 2013-04-01 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The human heart longs to be united with God, and it is only in prayer—as we answer God’s invitation to become friends of Jesus—that men and women can satisfy the deepest desires of their heart. These short meditations are taken from Pope Benedict XVI’s audiences, homilies, addresses, and writings from the past seven years of his pontificate, including his most recent catechesis on prayer. Because he is steeped in personal prayer and the liturgical and traditional prayers of the Church, the Holy Father offers us sound and inspiring advice about the essence, art, and practice of prayer. His reflections also provide deep insights into God’s love, Jesus’ own prayer, how to pray the psalms meaningfully, and the richness of devotions to the Eucharist and Mary. This is a handbook on prayer that you’ll want to read over and over again.

Download or read book Jesus Religion written by Jefferson Bethke and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2013-10-14 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abandon dead, dry, religious rule-keeping and embrace the promise of being truly known and deeply loved. Jefferson Bethke burst into the cultural conversation with a passionate, provocative poem titled "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." The 4-minute video became an overnight sensation, with 7 million YouTube views in its first 48 hours (and 23+ million in a year). Bethke's message clearly struck a chord with believers and nonbelievers alike, triggering an avalanche of responses running the gamut from encouraged to enraged. In his New York Times bestseller Jesus > Religion, Bethke unpacks similar contrasts that he drew in the poem--highlighting the difference between teeth gritting and grace, law and love, performance and peace, despair, and hope. With refreshing candor, he delves into the motivation behind his message, beginning with the unvarnished tale of his own plunge from the pinnacle of a works-based, fake-smile existence that sapped his strength and led him down a path of destructive behavior. Along the way, Bethke gives you the tools you need to: Humbly and prayerfully open your mind Understand Jesus for all that he is View the church from a brand-new perspective Bethke is quick to acknowledge that he's not a pastor or theologian, but simply an ordinary, twenty-something who cried out for a life greater than the one for which he had settled. On this journey, Bethke discovered the real Jesus, who beckoned him with love beyond the props of false religion. Praise for Jesus > Religion: "Jeff's book will make you stop and listen to a voice in your heart that may have been drowned out by the noise of religion. Listen to that voice, then follow it--right to the feet of Jesus." --Bob Goff, author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does and Everybody, Always "The book you hold in your hands is Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz meets C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity meets Augustine's Confessions. This book is going to awaken an entire generation to Jesus and His grace." --Derwin L. Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church, author of Limitless Life: Breaking Free from the Labels That Hold You Back

Download or read book A Friendship Like No Other written by William A. Barry and published by Loyola Press. This book was released on 2009-03-01 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Live in the love of a God who desires a relationship with you. Throughout A Friendship Like No Other, renowned spiritual director William A. Barry, SJ, explores the premise that God wants to relate to us as a close friend. Barry has contemplated this idea—radical for many Christians—throughout his lifetime, and he explains that it actually traces back to the “developing revelation of God contained in the Bible.” A Friendship Like No Other offers three well-supported and practical sections: prayerful exercises to help lead you to the conviction that God wants your friendship; a close look at objections to this idea; and reflections on experiencing the presence of God and discerning those experiences. Brief, personal meditations are woven throughout. Grounded in biblical tradition and with a clear focus on Ignatian spirituality, this book offers a fresh, heart-changing approach to living joyfully in the freedom of the divine embrace.

Download or read book Character Matters written by Aaron Menikoff and published by Moody Publishers. This book was released on 2020-05-05 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pastor, it’s time to turn down the noise and focus on what matters. Today’s pastoral world is packed with books, conferences, and seminars teaching you different techniques for being an all-star pastor, growing your church quickly, and changing the world. But the key to true success is much harder and much simpler. Pastors are called to be faithful, to have exemplary character, and to love Jesus. Without faithfulness, their ministry ends up harming others rather than helping them. Churches need pastors with sound doctrine and a sound life. Character Matters was written to help you slow down, cut through the noise and distractions, and focus on what matters—the fruit of the Spirit. Each chapter is a guided, biblical meditation on one aspect of each piece of the fruit of the Spirit. As you reflect and focus on the simple things that matter, you’ll see your heart change and your ministry follow, slowly, surely, and by the power of the Spirit.

Download or read book Friend ish written by Kelly Needham and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2019-08-27 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For so many of us, our friends are like family members--we lean on them through our highest highs and our lowest lows--but sometimes those friendships don't turn out quite as we hoped. Bible teacher Kelly Needham debunks our world's constricted, narrow view of friendship and casts a richer, more life-giving, biblical vision for friendship. In Friend-ish, Kelly Needham reminds us that we were called to more than halfhearted friendships and lukewarm connections. We need something more stable, secure, and sacred. We were designed for real friendship--but the difficult truth is that too many of us are settling for less. Kelly deconstructs what Scripture says about the gift of friendship and takes a closer look at the distorted view that most of us have instead. As she shares the lessons she's learned from experience, Kelly paints her own glorious vision of what Christian friendship could look like. With hard-fought wisdom, a clear view of Scripture, and a been-there perspective, Friend-ish teaches us how to: Recognize symptoms of idolatry and toxic dependency Boldly ask for what we need from our community of friends Understand and address the problems that arise in friendship--from neediness to discord Recognize when it's time to end an unhealthy friendship Reorient toward the purposeful, loving relationships we all crave that ultimately bring us closer to God Find the friends you need and start to become that friend for others Join Kelly as she challenges you to view your chosen family in a new light, gain a vision of friendship according to Jesus, and finally enjoy friendships as God intended.

Download or read book My Friend Jesus written by Kathryn Slattery and published by Thomas Nelson Inc. This book was released on 2013-10-29 with total page 33 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduce your children to the greatest friend they'll ever know. All Christian parents want their children to know and love the Lord. My Friend Jesus not only tells little ones the gospel story about Jesus, but also gently introduces them to a personal relationship with Jesus.

Download or read book Made for Friendship written by Drew Hunter and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2018-09-20 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: God made you for friendship. Friendship is one of the deepest pleasures of life. But in our busy, fast-paced, mobile world, we've lost this rich view of friendship and instead settled for shallow acquaintances based on little more than similar tastes or shared interests. Helping us recapture a vision of true friendship, pastor Drew Hunter explores God's design for friendship and what it really looks like in practice—giving us practical advice to cultivate the kinds of true friendships that lead to true and life-giving joy.

Download or read book The Friends of Jesus written by Karen Kingsbury and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2015-07-07 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: America’s favorite inspirational novelist and #1 New York Times bestselling author paints vividly realized portraits of six of Jesus’ closest friends and companions, bringing biblical truths to life in this captivating continuation of her Life-Changing Bible Story series. In our everyday lives, friends are the people whom we spend the most time with, go through struggles with, and who know us best. Each of Jesus’ friends—Peter, John, Matthew, Judas, Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus—traveled with Jesus and were part of His daily ministry, and each has a compelling story to tell. There were some who would question or doubt Him…and one would even betray Him. Kingsbury brings these fascinating personalities to life in ways that will not only help bring you closer to the truths found in Scripture, but also to Christ. By combining valuable, instructive Bible study with compelling, insightful character sketches of Jesus’ companions, Kingsbury provides you with a deeper understanding of the scriptural teachings featuring these fascinating people. Emotionally powerful, thought-provoking, and soulful, The Friends of Jesus will help you to appreciate the Bible and understand how it applies to your relationships with the most important people in your life.

Download or read book Breaking Busy written by Alli Worthington and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2016-01-26 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Have you ever felt like a fraud or failure as you struggle to find balance in life? Do you find yourself juggling everything in mediocrity and feeling like you're succeeding at very little? In her no-nonsense style, Alli Worthington--popular podcaster and author of The Year of Living Happy--tackles the big questions about finding happiness and one's God-given purpose. Have you ever felt like a fraud or failure as you struggle to find balance in life? Do you find yourself juggling everything in mediocrity and feeling like you're succeeding at very little? In her no-nonsense way, Alli Worthington tackles the big questions about finding happiness and one's God-given purpose. Breaking Busy marries popular secular research with solid biblical principles, instilling confidence that you, too, can move from crazy busy to confident calm. With refreshing candor, uproarious true stories, and a Christian worldview, Alli delivers truths that dismantle common happiness myths. Then she empowers you to get unstuck, to let go of the good to make way for the great, to know yourself and your Creator, and ultimately to find peace and purpose in this world of crazy. You will: Learn how to stop chasing what leaves you empty and start doing what you were created to do. Identify the common lies you believe and how to strip their power from your life. Recognize how what you say no to determines what you can say yes to. With relatable anecdotes, Alli models real-life guidance on boundaries, relationships, and self-care, humbly examining her own mistakes and walking through how she learned from her missteps and found peace in a world of busyness. If you long to find real connection with both your loved ones and your Creator, Alli Worthington deftly balances intelligent humility and heartwarming humor to help you rediscover your path.

Download or read book Friendship with God eBook written by Trevor Hudson and published by Struik Christian Media. This book was released on 2015-05-01 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Are you open to re-imagining your relationship with God as a friendship? Do you want to be transformed into the person God wants you to be? Friendship with God transforms us. As we learn to trust God as our Divine Friend, it has a transforming effect on our whole lives. It affects how we pray, our relationships with each other and the way we understand our everyday lives. It changes the way we think and feel, what we desire and long for, the way we see each other and how we seek to live our lives in the world. We could say our friendship with God creates the climate in which you and I become the people God wants us to be. In his latest book, Friendship with God, Trevor Hudson digs into these two interwoven themes of friendship and personal transformation. He explains that friendship is a helpful analogy for the intimate kind of relationship God wants with us. Put very simply, the gospel invites you and me into friendship with God. When we become friends with Jesus, we are drawn into God’s greater dream for the world. This indeed is the purpose of our lives on earth. We are created to become friends of God and to partner with God in making his dream a greater reality in the world around us. Topics that are addressed include: Living Beyond Loneliness God’s Passionate Longing for Friendship Getting to Know Our Friend Understanding Prayer as Deepening Friendship Looking Outward Together Exploring Our Friend’s Address Book Discerning What Our Friend Wants Us to Do Blessing Others as Our Friend Has Blessed Us Facing Our Fears with Our Friend Asking Our Friend the Hardest Question The creator God who loves us and set the whole universe into existence, and who sustains our lives in the immediacy of each moment, wants our intimate friendship. As you explore this good news you will be encouraged to see your faith and your life in a totally new way.

Download or read book The Friends of Jesus Bible Study Book written by Karen Kingsbury and published by Lifeway Church Resources. This book was released on 2015-07-15 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this six-session study, Karen Kingsbury explores six people in the life of Jesus and the depth of friendship that is found with each one. After a life of loneliness, Simon the Leper discovered true friendship with Jesus and became a person full of gratitude. Martha is known for her busyness and work ethic, but she also learned to worship through her friendship with Jesus. Saturated in legalism, Jairus was a religious and synagogue leader who learned much more about his beliefs and what it means to value relationships over religion. Mary Magdalene came to personally know her Savior, Jesus. Her life then was marked by devotion as a friend and follower of Jesus. And, Peter, a man of both faith and failure, challenges the reader to step up after failure and become a person of obedience and commitment to Jesus. Finally, the Bible study closes with the life and friendship of John. This beloved disciple and friend of Jesus begins his journey with Jesus as one of the sons of thunder, but transforms into a man marked by humility and love. All six of these friends of Jesus bring a variety of experiences and examples that show the ups and downs of friendship - and remind us that true friendship is worth the time and commitment involved through those challenging and joyful times. Most of all, this Bible study reminds readers that Jesus is the greatest friend they could ever have. He is your Savior and your Lord, now make Him your friend. Sessions Topics Include: Simon the Leper: Gratitude Martha: Worship Jairus: Belief Mary Magdalene: Devotion Peter: Obedience John: Humility Features: Interactive teaching video approximately 25-30 minutes each week Biblically rooted and gospel-centered on the friends of Jesus Leader material (guides to questions and discussion with small group) Personal study segments in member book to complete between group sessions set up in daily format but can we used at the leisure of the learner Each week focuses on a friend of Jesus (Simon the Leper, Martha of Bethany, Jairus, Mary Magdalene, Peter, John) Includes excerpts from Karen Kingsbury's book The Friends of Jesus using storytelling to relate the scripture and characters Benefits: Focus on the gospel of Jesus and learn to recognize the power of forgiveness in forging real relationships Believe that your broken relationships can be the background for beautiful redemption Escape loneliness and enjoy deep friendship with Jesus Embrace Jesus as a friend, not only Savior and Lord Find new life in the fertile soil of friendship with Jesus and with others Overcome busyness and distraction by finding friendship at the feet of Jesus Trade sickness and shame for a second chance at a soul connection with others through Christ

Download or read book Making Friends for Christ written by Wayne McDill and published by Createspace Independent Pub. This book was released on 2013-04-05 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Making Friends for Christ is a guide for learning how to be a real friend. It offers practical, everyday ideas for touching the people God has already put into your life. You will learn how to be a good listener, overcome common barriers, and invest in relationships. You can turn your home into a place of ministry and effectively tell how Christ has changed your life. You can learn to pray in faith for your friends and family and join with other believers for support and encouragement.

Download or read book How to Win Friends for Christ written by Fr. Thomas Cavanaugh and published by The Word Among Us Press. This book was released on 2017-04-01 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In his entertaining and engaging style, Mark Hart (also known as "The Bible Geek") shows readers why Scripture should be central to our life with the Lord. When we become immersed in Scripture, he says, we allow it—not the secular culture—to form our minds and hearts. In the story of the Bible, we find our own story as we discover how much God loves us and desires to save us and dwell among us. This book also considers the place of Scripture in the liturgy, introduces the practice of lectio divina, the prayerful reading of Scripture, and shows how the Scriptures connect to the sacraments.

Download or read book The Friendships of Jesus written by James Russell Miller and published by Darolt Books. This book was released on 2020-03-26 with total page 141 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:13-15 George MacDonald said in an address, "The longer I live, the more I am assured that the business of life, is to understand the Lord Jesus Christ." If this is true, whatever sheds even a little light on the character or life of Christ, is worth while. Nothing reveals a man's heart, better than his friendships. The kind of friend he istells the kind of man he is. The personal friendships of Jesus reveal many tender and beautiful things in his character. They show us also what is possible for us in divine friendship; for the heart of Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. These chapters are only suggestivenot exhaustive. If they make the way into close personal friendship with Jesus any plainer for those who hunger for such blessed intimacythat will be reward enough.

Download or read book Friendship with the Friend of Sinners written by Jared C. Wilson and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2023-09-05 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bible calls Jesus the friend of sinners, but it's hard to imagine what friendship with Jesus really looks like. We so often don't even know how to do friendship with the people around us, despite all the options we have to connect. So how are we supposed to feel that close to a holy, perfect, and invisible God? How do we see Jesus as the real person he is? And how do we experience true friendship with him when we struggle to maintain true friendship on earth? Join author Jared C. Wilson as he explores what it means to be a friend of Jesus. Through candid personal stories and insights into the Gospels, Wilson uncovers easily overlooked details of the close relationship Jesus had with his followers. He reveals the ways we often hold Jesus at arm's length and shows how to draw close to him through radical honesty, consistent communication, and unconditional love. If you've found yourself lonely and longing for connection and friendship, it's time to discover the remarkable possibility of closeness with Christ.

Download or read book In His Steps written by Charles Monroe Sheldon and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 1984-11 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This classic presents people seeking to change their community by pledging themselves to experiment for a whole year with the question, 'What would Jesus do?'

Download or read book The Friend We Have in Jesus written by Rudolf Schnackenburg and published by Westminster John Knox Press. This book was released on 1997-01-01 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this enlightening book, Rudolph Schnackenburg asks, who is Jesus for us today? By delving into the relationships Jesus had during his lifetime with biblical figures such as John, Peter, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Schnackenburg discovers that Jesus must be seen as a friend--a personal friend--of everyone. Schnackenburg writes that friendship must prove itself genuine during times of persecution and suffering. Friendship with Jesus gives Christians the strength of the Holy Spirit to overcome the difficulties that can make their way into daily life. By reviewing our relationship with Jesus as a deep and profound friendship, Christians can recognize the compassion, care, communication, and commitment that Jesus offers to us through our faith.