Download or read book Forming Intentional Disciples written by Sherry A. Weddell and published by Our Sunday Visitor. This book was released on 2015-11-30 with total page 179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How can we transmit a living, personal Catholic faith to future generations? By coming to know Jesus Christ, and following him as his disciples. These are times of immense challenge and immense opportunity for the Catholic Church. Consider these statistics for the United States. Only 30 percent of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing. Fully 10 percent of all adults in America are ex-Catholics. The number of marriages celebrated in the Church decreased dramatically, by nearly 60 percent, between 1972 and 2010. Only 60 percent of Catholics believe in a personal God. If the Church is to reverse these trends, the evangelizers must first be evangelized-in other words, Catholics-in-the-pew must make a conscious choice to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. This work of discipleship lies at the heart of Forming Intentional Disciples, a book designed to help Church leaders, parish staff and all Catholics transform parish life from within. Drawing upon her fifteen years of experience with the Catherine of Siena Institute, Sherry Weddell leads readers through steps that will help Catholics enter more deeply into a relationship with God and the river of apostolic creativity, charisms, and vocation that flow from that relationship for the sake of the Church and the world. Learn about the five thresholds of postmodern conversion, how to open a conversation about faith and belief, how to ask thought-provoking questions and establish an atmosphere of trust, when to tell the Great Story of Jesus, how to help someone respond to God's call to intentional discipleship, and much more. And be prepared for conversion because when life at the parish level changes, the life of the whole Church will change.

Download or read book For the Strength of Youth 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 1965 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: OUR DEAR YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN, we have great confidence in you. You are beloved sons and daughters of God and He is mindful of you. You have come to earth at a time of great opportunities and also of great challenges. The standards in this booklet will help you with the important choices you are making now and will yet make in the future. We promise that as you keep the covenants you have made and these standards, you will be blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, your faith and testimony will grow stronger, and you will enjoy increasing happiness.

Download or read book The Joy of the Gospel written by Pope Francis and published by Image. This book was released on 2014-10-07 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage

Download or read book What Is the Mission of the Church written by Kevin DeYoung and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2011-09-08 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Social justice and mission are hot topics today: there's a wonderful resurgence of motivated Christians passionate about spreading the gospel and caring for the needs of others. But in our zeal to get sharing and serving, many are unclear on gospel and mission. Yes, we are called to spend ourselves for the sake of others, but what is the church's unique priority as it engages the world? DeYoung and Gilbert write to help Christians "articulate and live out their views on the mission of the church in ways that are theologically faithful, exegetically careful, and personally sustainable." Looking at the Bible's teaching on evangelism, social justice, and shalom, they explore the what, why, and how of the church's mission. From defining "mission", to examining key passages on social justice and their application, to setting our efforts in the context of God's rule, DeYoung and Gilbert bring a wise, studied perspective to the missional conversation. Readers in all spheres of ministry will grow in their understanding of the mission of the church and gain a renewed sense of urgency for Jesus' call to preach the Word and make disciples.

Download or read book Community of Missionary Disciples written by Bevans, Stephen B. and published by Orbis Books. This book was released on 2024-04-17 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Gospel Centered Discipleship Foreword by Matt Chandler written by Jonathan K. Dodson and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2022-03-03 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Gospel-Rich, Reproducible Model for Making Disciples as Jesus Intended Biblical discipleship emphasizes encouragement, repentance, and spiritual growth—essential parts of the Christian life. However, well-meaning believers often struggle to follow Jesus, unaware their views are too legalistic, licentious, or individualistic. How can churches and Christians develop a healthy, successful path to disciple-making? In this second edition of Gospel-Centered Discipleship, Jonathan Dodson presents an effective, Spirit-led model for sanctification. Reminding readers that real discipleship is imperfect yet transformational, Dodson encourages Christians to engage more authentically with others as they grow in faith. Drawing from his own failures and successes while following Jesus, Dodson defines discipleship, describes the heart of a disciple, and gives practical guidance for mentor and peer-based discipleship as Jesus intended. Revised and Expanded: Includes three new chapters and new illustrations Applicable: Shows how discipleship can be practical and gospel-centered Theological: Addresses the Holy Spirit's involvement in discipleship Foreword by Matt Chandler: Author of The Explicit Gospel

Download or read book Missionary Disciples Going Forth with Joy National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Latino Ministry Disc pulos Misioneros en Salida con Alegr a Plan Pastoral Nacional para el Ministerio Hispano Latino written by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and published by Our Sunday Visitor. This book was released on 2023-08-04 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a dual-language book, formatted with an English translation in the front and Spanish translation in the back. The Hispanic/Latino community is a blessing from God for the Church and for our country. During the last few decades in particular, Hispanics/Latinos have reinvigorated the life and mission of thousands of parishes and other Catholic institutions and organizations. Missionary Disciples Going Forth with Joy: National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry addresses the entire Church in the United States and seeks to strengthen the Church's response to the Hispanic/Latino presence, while embracing and fostering the contributions of Hispanic/Latino Catholics as missionary disciples serving the entire People of God. This document from the U.S. bishops comes in direct response to the priorities, recommendations, and pastoral insights generated during the V National Encuentro for Hispanic/Latino Ministry. Given the ongoing growth of the Hispanic/Latino population across the country, the establishment of Hispanic/Latino ministry in more parishes and other pastoral settings is a high priority. Included in the National Pastoral Plan are the following: The vision and pastoral guidelines that provide a strong foundation for Hispanic/Latino ministry intended for pastoral ministers and educators Pastoral strategies and priorities for dioceses, parishes, regions, and other pastoral settings for pastoral ministers at various levels of experience in Hispanic/Latino ministry National objectives and activities, led by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, for implementation over the next ten years Este es un libro en dos idiomas, formateado con una traducción al inglés al principio y una traducción al español al final. La presencia hispana/latina entre nosotros es una bendición de Dios para la Iglesia y para nuestro país. Particularmente en las últimas décadas, hemos sido testigos de cómo nuestra comunidad hispana/latina ha revitalizado la vida y la misión de miles de parroquias y otras instituciones y organizaciones católicas. Discípulos Misioneros en Salida con Alegría: Plan Pastoral Nacional para el Ministerio Hispano/Latino se dirige a toda la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos, con el propósito de fortalecer la respuesta de la Iglesia a la presencia hispana/latina, al tiempo que acoge y fomenta las contribuciones de los católicos hispanos/latinos como discípulos misioneros al servicio de todo el Pueblo de Dios. Este documento de los obispos de los Estados Unidos es una respuesta directa a las prioridades, recomendaciones y perspectivas pastorales generadas durante el V Encuentro Nacional de Pastoral Hispana/Latina. Dado el continuo crecimiento de la población hispana/latina en todo el país, el establecimiento de la pastoral hispana/latina en más parroquias y otros entornos pastorales constituye una máxima prioridad. Este Plan Pastoral Nacional incluye lo siguiente: La visión y las líneas de acción pastoral crean una base sólida para la pastoral hispana/latina y están dirigidas a los ministros pastorales y a los educadores Estrategias y prioridades pastorales para diócesis, parroquias, regiones y otros entornos pastorales y para ministros pastorales con diversos niveles de experiencia en la pastoral hispana/latina Objetivos y actividades nacionales, dirigidos por la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB), para su implementación en los próximos diez años

Download or read book Jesus Disciple of the Kingdom written by Osvaldo D. Vena and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2014-01-08 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: That Jesus started his career as a disciple of John the Baptist is an idea that has gained almost universal recognition in the scholarly world. His coming from Galilee to be baptized by John in the river Jordan is the most compelling proof of Jesus' subordination to John. But quickly after John was executed Jesus started his own career, not as a disciple anymore, but as a teacher in his own right. In this book Osvaldo Vena makes the claim that throughout his ministry Jesus remained a disciple, not of John, but of a higher power, God, and God's kingdom. Thus, Jesus called men and women to join him as co-disciples as he went about proclaiming the nearness of the kingdom through word and action.In this work Vena contends that in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is presented as a prototype of true and faithful discipleship, a model to be followed and imitated by ancient as well as contemporary believers. This presentation amounts to an emerging Christology espoused by the early Markan community on the verge of destruction from outside forces, specifically the Jewish-Roman war, as well as internal divisions resulting from struggles for power in the community.

Download or read book Whole Life Mission for the Whole Church written by Mark Greene and published by Langham Global Library. This book was released on 2021-03-17 with total page 183 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sacred-secular divide permeates our churches, our seminaries, and our lives. By perpetuating the false belief that there are some areas of life that are not important to God, some callings that are second-class, and some spheres of society that are not worth engaging, the sacred-secular divide diminishes our understanding of God, discipleship, missiology, and the gospel itself. Seeking to liberate the global church from the power of this dichotomy, Whole-Life Mission for the Whole Church provides theological educators with the tools they need to combat the sacred-secular divide in the very realm where it is so often generated: the classroom. Filled with contributions from practitioners around the world, this book contains a wealth of insight into both the nature of the problem and the possibilities for its solution. The approaches suggested here are biblically rooted, contextually appropriate, and experientially tested, offering an excellent resource for educators desiring to transform their institutional cultures, curriculums, and classrooms into environments that envision, empower, and liberate the whole church for its role in the mission of God.

Download or read book The Unsaved Christian written by Dean Inserra and published by Moody Publishers. This book was released on 2019-03-05 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What to do when they say they’re Christian but don’t know Jesus Whether it’s the Christmas and Easter Christians or the faithful church attenders whose hearts are cold toward the Lord, we’ve all encountered cultural Christians. They’d check the Christian box on a survey, they’re fine with church, but the truth is, they’re far from God. So how do we bring Jesus to this overlooked mission field? The Unsaved Christian equips you to confront cultural Christianity with honesty, compassion, and grace, whether you’re doing it from the pulpit or the pews. This practical guide will: show you how to recognize cultural Christianity teach you how to overcome the barriers that get in the way give you easy-to-understand advice about VBS, holiday services, reaching “good people,” and more! If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure how to minister to someone who identifies as Christian but still needs Jesus, this book is for you.

Download or read book Multiply written by Francis Chan and published by David C Cook. This book was released on 2012-11-01 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jesus gave his followers a command: “Follow me.” And a promise: “And I will equip you to find others to follow me.” We were made to make disciples. Designed for use in discipleship relationships and other focused settings, Multiply will equip you to carry out Jesus’s ministry. Each of the twenty-four sessions in the book corresponds with an online video at www.multiplymovement.com, where New York Times bestselling author David Platt joins Francis in guiding you through each part of Multiply. One plus one plus one. Every copy of Multiply is designed to do what Jesus did: make disciples who make disciples who make disciples…. Until the world knows the truth of Jesus Christ.

Download or read book Grace Defined and Defended written by Kevin DeYoung and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2019-04-17 with total page 85 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christians love to celebrate grace, but often talk about it in vague generalities. But such an important biblical concept ought to be clearly defined so it can be consistently defended. In this book, best-selling author Kevin DeYoung points modern readers back to an old document originally written to do just that. Warmly pastoral and broadly accessible, this book introduces readers to the Canons of Dort, a 17th-century work summarizing the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Widely regarded as a key pillar of the Reformed tradition, the Canons of Dort stand as a faithful witness to God's grace—offering a depth of understanding that the church still needs today. In three concise sections—covering history, theology, and practical application—DeYoung explores what led to the Canons and why they were needed, the five important doctrines that they explain, and Dort's place in the Reformed tradition today.

Download or read book Saturate written by Jeff Vanderstelt and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2015-04-16 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What does living for Jesus look like in the everyday stuff of life? Many Christians have unwittingly embraced the idea that “church” is a once-a-week event rather than a community of Spirit-empowered people; that “ministry” is what pastors do on Sundays rather than the 24/7 calling of all believers; and that “discipleship” is a program rather than the normal state of every follower of Jesus. Drawing on his experience as a pastor and church planter, Jeff Vanderstelt wants us to see that there’s more—much more—to the Christian life than sitting in a pew once a week. God has called his people to something bigger: a view of the Christian life that encompasses the ordinary, the extraordinary, and everything in between. Packed full of biblical teaching, compelling stories, and real-world advice, this book will remind you that Jesus is filling the world with his presence through the everyday lives of everyday people... People just like you.

Download or read book Growing True Disciples written by George Barna and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2013-03-06 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christ’s command to the church is clear: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations...” It is in building disciples--helping others to embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, mature in him, and then lead others to do the same--that the Kingdom grows. And when the Kingdom grows, churches do, too. In Growing True Disciples, respected author and researcher George Barna helps pastors and leaders assess how their churches are doing in fulfilling their role as disciplemakers. And he reveals models and examples that will equip churches to dramatically increase their effectiveness. As a result, your church can begin to see more involved members who want to live out their faith in submission to God, and joyfully share their resources to fulfill Christ’s commission.

Download or read book Think written by John Piper and published by Inter-Varsity Press. This book was released on 2013-04-23 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a book to help Christians to think about thinking. Focusing on the life of the mind helps us to know God better, love him more, and care for the world. Along with an emphasis on emotions and the experience of God, we also need to practise careful thinking about God. Piper contends that 'thinking is indispensable on the path to passion for God'. So how are we to maintain a healthy balance of mind and heart, thinking and feeling? Piper urges us to think for the glory of God. He demonstrates from Scripture that glorifying God with our minds and hearts is not either-or, but both-and. Thinking carefully about God fuels passion and affections for God. Likewise, Christ-exalting emotion leads to disciplined thinking. Readers will be reminded that 'the mind serves to know the truth that fuels the fires of the heart'.

Download or read book Missionary Candidate Training written by Paul Sungro Lee and published by Evangelical Alliance for Preacher Training/Commission. This book was released on 2008-11-15 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today, the world mission has unprecedentedly become a task of every national churches and believers on earth. Missionaries are being sent out from every nations to every nations! Strategists have previously noticed that Africa, along with East Asia, would emerge as the key fulcrum for world missions in the 21st Century. 2010 Lausanne Congress held in South Africa proved that to be true. Along this path, Evangelical Alliance for Preacher Training/Commission (EAPTC) opened their missions training schools in Kenya and South Korea, using this book as their training text. It was through the efforts of those missionary trainees that their work expanded into over 200 new church plants in 11 countries today. This book was put together mainly for Two-Thirds World missionary candidates who often find themselves limited with sound missions training opportunities around, while the lessons in this manual apply to all who are mission-interested. Going as a missionary or sending a missionary without proper training is quite reckless. The principles of cross-cultural mission presented in 11 chapters of this book are field-tested nuggets that can certainly equip anyone aspiring for missionary work. The training has been scientifically validated effective through research and used in Africa, Asia, Americas and Oceania. This manual is also available in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Amharic.

Download or read book Make Disciples of All Nations written by John D. Massey and published by Kregel Publications. This book was released on 2021-07-20 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A contemporary evaluation of the history and present status of Southern Baptist Missions For more than 175 years the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has been sending missionaries around the world to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has also developed strategies and methods that have been adopted by numerous other missions groups. Make Disciples of All Nations tells the story of this groundbreaking organization, including its most recent developments. Besides recounting its historical development, the contributors to this volume critically evaluate the IMB's strategies and methods, as well as examine its controversies, regional developments, and organizational changes. The concluding chapter explores how Southern Baptist missions can best adapt to an era of global Christianity. Students, missionaries, and those involved in supporting them will be informed and encouraged by this account of one of the oldest and largest missions organizations in the world.