Download or read book The Mystic Way of Evangelism written by Elaine A. Heath and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2017-11-07 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Elaine Heath brings a fresh perspective to the theory and practice of evangelism by approaching it through contemplative spirituality. This thoroughly revised edition includes a new study guide. Praise for the First Edition Outreach Resource of the Year Award Winner "[Heath's] biographies of the mystics are inspiring, and her emphases on suffering and spiritual depth as the antidote to a prepackaged, method-obsessed, consumer-oriented evangelistic approach are refreshing."--Outreach

Download or read book The Signature of Jesus written by Brennan Manning and published by Multnomah. This book was released on 2004-07-06 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Signature of Jesus challenges the gospel of "cheap grace" and calls the church to radical discipleship. With passion and boldness, author Brennan Manning invites readers to risk living life as Jesus lived—committed to simplicity, purity of heart, and obedience to the gospel. As a radical alternative this book is offered to Christians who want to live by faith and not by mere “religion,” for those who recognize that many of the burning theological issues in the church today are neither burning nor theological; who see Christianity neither as a moral code or a belief system but as a love affair; who have not forgotten that they are followers of a crucified Christ; who know that following him means living dangerously; who want to live the gospel without compromise; who have no greater desire than to have his signature written on the pages of their lives. “Behold,” Jesus proclaims, “I stand at the door and knock.” You may have already met him at the door…but do you truly know him? Have you been transformed by His furious, passionate, unexplainable love? Join Brennan Manning, the bestselling author of The Ragamuffin Gospel, on a personal journey to experience Christ’s love and live with His passion.

Download or read book The Mystic Way of Salvation written by Matthew Scraper and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2015-01-06 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is becoming clear that the church of the modern world is losing (or has already lost) its perceived value among the general populace. There have been many theories proposed that try to explain the reason for this decline in value, ranging from the church's need to be more relevant, to the necessity of return to authentic community. If the church is to become valuable again then we must return to a more substantive theology, one that helps people, both individually and collectively, to better understand Christian spiritual growth by explaining what the process of growing toward spiritual maturity has historically looked like. What the world needs is a church that is irrelevant...one that breaks the worldly cycles of selfishness, selfism, and entitlement and offers an alternative to the meaningless quest for self-deification. If we are to make a difference in the world again, then we must stop trying to make disciples who follow Christ, and begin making disciples who know Christ.

Download or read book Naked Faith written by Elaine A Heath and published by James Clarke & Company. This book was released on 2010-08-27 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Phoebe Palmer's honour was lost posthumously, for within a few decades after her death her name all but disappeared. Palmer's sanctification theology was separated from its apophatic spiritual moorings, even as her memory was lost. To this day the Motherof the Holiness Movement still awaits her place of recognition as a Christian mystic equal to Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, or Therese of Lisieux. This book locates Palmer's life and thought within the great Christian mystical traditions, identifying her importance within Methodism and the church universal. It also presents a Wesleyan theological framework for understanding and valuing Christian mysticism, while connecting it with the larger mystical traditions in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox communions. While Palmer was a powerful revivalist in her own day, in many ways she could be the patron saint for contemporary Methodists who are drawn to the new monasticism and who long for the renewal of the church. Saint Phoebe is precisely the one who can help Methodists envision new forms of Christian community, mission, and witness in a postmodern world.

Download or read book Naked Faith written by Elaine A. Heath and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now and then through the history of the church a great light appears, a prophet who calls the church back to its missional vocation. These reformers are lovers of God, mystics whose lives are utterly given to the divine vision. Yet as Jesus noted, a prophet is often without honor among her own people. In the case of Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874), honor was lost posthumously, for within a few decades after her death her name all but disappeared. Palmer's sanctification theology was separated from its apophatic spiritual moorings, even as her memory was lost. Throughout most of the twentieth century her name was virtually unknown among Methodists. To this day the Mother of the Holiness Movement still awaits her place of recognition as a Christian mystic equal to Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, or ThŽrase of Lisieux. This book locates Palmer's life and thought within the great Christian mystical traditions, identifying her importance within Methodism and the church universal. It also presents a Wesleyan theological framework for understanding and valuing Christian mysticism, while connecting it with the larger mystical traditions in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox communions. While Palmer was a powerful revivalist in her own day, in many ways she could be the patron saint for contemporary Methodists who are drawn to the new monasticism and who long for the renewal of the church. Saint Phoebe is precisely the one who can help Methodists envision new forms of Christian community, mission, and witness in a postmodern world.

Download or read book The Pursuit of God written by A. W. Tozer and published by DigiCat. This book was released on 2022-05-28 with total page 81 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pursuit of God is a series of sermons by A.W. Tozer. They focus on fighting and staying clear from Satan while opening hearts and minds to the saving force of God.

Download or read book The Big Book of Christian Mysticism written by Carl McColman and published by Broadleaf Books . This book was released on 2021-11-16 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In popular usage, "mysticism" typically refers to New Age or Eastern forms of spirituality. However, the mystical tradition is also an important component of the Christian tradition. At its heart--and much like its expression in other faith traditions--Christian mysticism is an ancient practice that incorporates meditation, contemplation, worship, philosophy, the quest for personal enlightenment, and the experience of Divine presence. This volume is a comprehensive introduction and guide to Christian mysticism. It is a big book about a big possibility: the hope of achieving real, blissful, experiential unison with God. Among the topics covered here are a general introduction to mysticism, the Bible and mysticism, the history and types of Christian mysticism, biographical sketches of leading Christian mystics, and practical instructions about practicing mysticism today. This is a breathtaking work that explores a form of spirituality that has changed lives over the course of 2,000 years. Learning about Christian mysticism and how it has been articulated through the centuries will prove inspirational for today's seekers, regardless of the faith tradition. "The mystic is not a special kind of person; every person is a special kind of mytic." --William McNamara

Download or read book Healing the Divide written by Amos Smith and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2013-03-29 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Healing the Divide is a bold call to understand Jesus according to the earliest lineage of Christian Mystics--a call to transform our dualistic minds and heal a divided Church. This book is a must-read if you find yourself -frustrated by the fundamentalist and new age polarization of twenty-first-century Christianity; -bewildered by religious pluralism; -searching for Christianity's elusive mystic core. Twenty-first century Christianity is in crisis, careening toward fundamentalism on the one hand and a rootless new age Christianity on the other. Twenty-first century Christianity is also reeling from the maze of religious pluralism. Smith addresses and tempers these extremes by passionately and succinctly revealing Jesus as understood by the Alexandrian mystics. The Alexandrian mystics are the most long standing lineage of early Christian mystics. Their perspective on Jesus celebrates creative tensions, tempers extremes, and reveals Christian mysticism's definitive core.

Download or read book The Celtic Way of Evangelism written by George G. Hunter and published by Abingdon Press. This book was released on 2010 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This revision of Hunter's classic explores what an ancient form of Christianity can teach today's church leaders.

Download or read book Jesus Loves You and Evolution Is True written by Jason Lief and published by Fortress Press. This book was released on 2019-05-07 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Science is not a danger to the faith of Christian youth. In fact, Sara Sybesma Tolsma, an award-winning scientist, and Jason Lief, a leading practical theologian, argue that youth ministry needs science to help young people explore their relationship to God and engage their world faithfully. Jesus Loves You and Evolution Is True invites the church and its leaders to open their minds and hearts to what science can tell us about our human lives and our connections to, and role in, our natural world. But it does not stop there: evolutionary science is theological, argues Lief and Tolsma, and so it must have a central place in the day-to-day work of youth ministry. If the church wants to help youth develop robust spiritual lives and prepare them for the challenges that life will bring them, pastors, faith leaders, and youth workers must not only engage science but embrace its lessons for the life and practice of Christian faith today.

Download or read book Models of Evangelism written by Priscilla Pope-Levison and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2020-10-27 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many sincere Christians dismiss evangelism due to enduring evangelistic caricatures. This book helps readers move beyond those caricatures to consider thoughtfully and practically how they can engage in evangelism, whether it's through one-on-one conversations, social media, social justice, or the liturgy of worship services. At once biblical, theological, historical, and practical, this book by a seasoned scholar offers an engaging, well-researched, and well-organized presentation and analysis of eight models of evangelism. Covering a breadth of approaches--from personal evangelism to media evangelism and everything in between--Priscilla Pope-Levison encourages readers to take a deeper look at evangelism and discover a model that captures their attention. Each chapter introduces and assesses a model biblically, theologically, historically, and practically, allowing for easy comparison across the board. The book also includes end-of-chapter study questions to further help readers interact with each model.

Download or read book The Mystic s Way for Regular People written by James C. Alexander and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2021-04-19 with total page 71 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many are searching for a deeper spiritual life. Yet, often seekers don't really know where to begin. In this short book, James Alexander demystifies the mystical journey. Realizing that the mystics have much to offer those searching for a richer spiritual life, and yet that not everyone is called to a monastic life, Alexander offers a path for everyday mystics. If you have been wanting "something more," but don't know how to go about it, this book is for you! Characteristics of the mystical journey as well as practices that will deepen your spiritual life and relationships with others are presented in an inviting, doable way. The mystic's way is a reality for everyone. This book offers a starting point for a fuller, richer experience of God that will encourage you and excite you. Discover a path that has enriched the life of many followers of Jesus--both now and in the past. The journey awaits you. Now is the time to begin!

Download or read book Mainline Or Methodist written by Scott Thomas Kisker and published by Upper Room Books. This book was released on 2008 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Where do we go from here? The dynamic history and identity of the United Methodist Church is lost among the pluralistic landscape in America today. As a living organism, the church can expect to evolve with the culture that surrounds it. The problem, according to lifelong member and author Scott Kisker, is that the United Methodist Church seems to have lost its missional foundation as it climbed to mainline American Protestant church status. Trying to be both mainline and Methodist is a deadly combination. In fact, it's a leading cause for the denomination's spiritual and numerical decline, Kisker asserts. "Real Methodism declined because we replaced those peculiarities that made us Methodist with a bland, acceptable, almost civil religion, barely distinguishable from other traditions," writes Kisker. "Like the Israelites under the judges, we wanted to be like other nations. We no longer wanted to be an odd, somewhat disreputable people. And we have begun to reap the consequences." So...where do we go from here? In his passionate yet critical review, Kisker says we must reclaim the rich roots of salvation, disciple-making, and witness that made the tradition so strong. In Mainline or Methodist? he reveals what's not working and unveils a vision for renewal that embodies the distinctive Wesleyan tradition of the apostolic and universal Christian faith.

Download or read book Mystic Bonfires written by Kevin Goodrich and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2022-06-08 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For centuries, people have been drawn to the Christian mystics—women and men who have known God in powerful and experiential ways. Mystic Bonfires is for students, scholars, and practitioners of ministry, theology, and spiritual formation. It explores theology and theory and shares insights for practice and prayer. Readers will encounter classical concepts about the spiritual life and how to apply these concepts to their ministries in faithful and creative ways. Mystic Bonfires includes questions for students in academic and formation settings as well as project ideas for congregations. Mystic Bonfires explores the intersection of spiritual theology and practical theology. Walter Hilton, a 14th century English mystic and a contemporary of Julian of Norwich serves as a case study for the intersection of these fields called practical spiritual theology.

Download or read book Missional Monastic Mainline written by Elaine A. Heath and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2014-01-30 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here is the long-awaited volume that provides both the theoretical foundations and practical guidance for developing new monastic and missional communities in contexts that are theologically progressive, racially and economically diverse, and multicultural. This book contains the wisdom and perspectives of people who live and serve in missional, new monastic communities in United Methodist and other mainline traditions, and it describes new forms of theological education that are emerging to resource a new generation of Christian leaders. Heath and Duggins challenge Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and other Christians to reach into their own robust, mainline heritage for resources to develop small, intentional communities that practice a rigorous life of prayer, hospitality, and justice.

Download or read book Evangelism and the Openness of God written by Vaughn W. Baker and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2012-12-18 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Argues that a dynamic concept of God as articulated in open theism better serves the evangelistic mission of the church than does conventional theology."--Back

Download or read book God Unbound written by Elaine Heath and published by Upper Room Books. This book was released on 2016-07-01 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What does it mean to move beyond the boundaries of what we believe? The apostle Paul led the Galatians through a massive cultural shift in which they had to radically expand their ideas of who God is, who they were, and God's mission for the church. He was able to lead them through this time of great change because of his encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus road, an experience in which his view of God was completely upended. Today Christianity is undergoing a cultural shift just as challenging as the situation confronting Paul and the Galatians. As many churches decline, congregations and pastors feel uncertain and anxious about how to continue their mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Elaine Heath extends an invitation to broaden our view of God by moving beyond the walls of buildings and programs to become a more diverse church than we have ever imagined. While deeply honoring tradition, she calls the church to boldly follow the Holy Spirit's leadership into the future. Ideal for a 6- to 9-week small-group study.