Download or read book The Scariest Word in the Bible written by Lance M. Bacon and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2018-08-14 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Jesus' view, "many" are wrong about being right with God. They anticipate a home in heaven but will receive an eternal eviction. How can we be sure that we are not among the many? This book will help you find that answer. Presented from a pastor's heart, this work combines exegetical analysis, theological acumen, and practical ministerial insight to help you obtain and maintain a saving relationship with God. The Parable of the Sower serves as the roadmap on our journey, as it provides remarkable insight on why "many" seeds fail to find good ground or bring forth good fruit. Jesus also reveals how we can tap the unimaginable potential for personal and kingdom growth contained within. The first section breaks up the hard ground to reveal the deep truths of sin and salvation. The second section identifies ways to overcome the stones that prevent spiritual growth--offense, unforgiveness, fear, solitude, and complacency. The third section analyzes the postmodern worldviews, deficient theologies, materialism, and the idolatry of self that suffocates many growing Christians. Only the believer who rightly responds to God can begin to live for God and ultimately live from God. This is God's salvation. Is it yours?
Download or read book There Is No Fear of God in This Land written by Jeff Andrick and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2018-11-09 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Jeff, I couldn’t put it down. Started reading and couldn’t stop. Not a conventional approach, but your subject matter really matters. Your personal stories win the reader over, conclusions were solid and the presentation intriguing. Thanks for the opportunity to be an early reader and fan! Really good, Jeff.” “I think you nailed it, Jeff. Your passion shows through. You won’t sell many copies, though, maybe to a few serious Christians.” There is no fear of God in this land. Without a proper fear of God straying is inevitable in our practices and our beliefs. What was once staunchly admonished is now tacitly accepted and important doctrines are treated like casual recommendations. If the Word of God is so serious and profound, why do contemporary Christians treat it so playfully?
Download or read book God s Final Word written by Ray C. Stedman and published by Our Daily Bread Publishing. This book was released on 2011-05-01 with total page 791 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ray Stedman guides you on a verse-by-verse exploration of the book of Revelation, bringing to life the mysteries of this highly symbolic book of the Bible. God's Final Word encompasses and brings into brilliant focus the entire scope of human history—of eternity itself.
Download or read book Unfortunate Words of the Bible written by G. P. Wagenfuhr and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2019-06-25 with total page 179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What do unicorns, law, love, and hell all have in common? They are all unfortunate words of the Bible. Through mistranslation, cultural shifts, anachronisms, and misguided intentions, this book traces several key words whose meaning is commonly misunderstood in our world today. If the blatant mistranslation of unicorns could survive in the Bible for thousands of years, securing their place in our cultural imagination to this day, what would happen if important words, like salvation, were misunderstood? How might our cultural imaginations hide the meaning of the Bible rather than revealing it? By tearing down misunderstandings, Wagenfuhr builds up a broad overview of the story of the Bible that illustrates a more mature and more exciting vision for Christian faith(fulness) than is commonly assumed.
Download or read book Restore Such a One written by Lance M. Bacon and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2024-08-01 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Widespread deficiencies in spiritual formation see an increasing number of ministers buckle under the significant burdens common to the task. There are seasons when a powerful triad of the flesh, the world, and the devil converge (Eph 2:2-3, cf. Jas 3:15 and 1 John 2:16). Misdirected attempts to fulfill emptiness, find worth, or heal longstanding wounds ensue. Widespread instances of sexual immorality result. Sound exegesis and analysis of theological doctrine presents an allowance, in certain cases, for ministerial restoration. However, this necessitates an intimate and intricate approach that differs significantly from the varied solutions churches and denominations offer. Few restoration programs bring a biblical response to bear. Remarkably rare are restoration programs that look to correct causal factors and commit to congregational care. This program orients itself on an understanding of brokenness and the need for holistic (re)formation. The latter requires fallen ministers to progress beyond biblical confession and repentance to partner with the Holy Spirit and key authorities such as an overseer, mentors, Christian mental health professionals, and a designated congregation. The unitive goal is a "sanctifying psychopathology" that properly diagnoses spiritual and emotional health; eradicates the adverse influences of emotional, cultural, and spiritual factors; and redirects self-oriented patterns of thought and behavior.
Download or read book Gospelbound written by Collin Hansen and published by Multnomah. This book was released on 2021-04-06 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A profound exploration of how to hold on to hope when our unchanging faith collides with a changing culture, from two respected Christian storytellers and thought leaders. “Offers neither spin control nor image maintenance for the evangelical tribe, but genuine hope.”—Russell Moore, president of ERLC As the pressures of health warnings, economic turmoil, and partisan politics continue to rise, the influence of gospel-focused Christians seems to be waning. In the public square and popular opinion, we are losing our voice right when it’s needed most for Christ’s glory and the common good. But there’s another story unfolding too—if you know where to look. In Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra counter these growing fears with a robust message of resolute hope for anyone hungry for good news. Join them in exploring profound stories of Christians who are quietly changing the world in the name of Jesus—from the wild world of digital media to the stories of ancient saints and unsung contemporary activists on the frontiers of justice and mercy. Discover how, in these dark times, the light of Jesus shines even brighter. You haven’t heard the whole story. And that’s good news.
Download or read book Prayer Works Getting a Grip on Catholic Spirituality written by Matthew Leonard and published by Our Sunday Visitor. This book was released on 2014-05-23 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Maybe you've read stories about millionaires who travel to Tibet to learn how to meditate. Maybe you know someone who visited a monastery for a month to learn how to pray. Maybe you don't have that kind of money or spare time. But you still want to learn to pray. Don't worry. You don't need money or a monastery. You have this book. You have a sense of humor. And you have God's grace. You're ready to pray. Prayer is how we talk with God. The Bible says we should do it constantly. Jesus said it's the one thing we need to do. Your soul was made to be in conversation with God. Nobody knows you better. Nobody cares more about you. The good news is that prayer isn't something exotic or esoteric - not when Matthew Leonard talks about it. He makes the methods manageable. (Promise: you won't have to twist your body into a pretzel, hire a coach, or learn a foreign language.) So if you've never read a book on prayer, you've got the right one. And if you've read lots of books on prayer, you've still got the right one. It's got laugh-out-loud humor, great storytelling, and rock-solid instruction. Prayer Works is fun and fast-paced. It will put you on your knees - after you're finished slapping them.
Download or read book Crucifying Religion written by Donavon Riley and published by New Reformation Publications. This book was released on 2019-08-01 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jesus is the end of all religion. All the sacrifices of priests and people are rendered null and void by Jesus' one-time-for-all-time sacrifice for all people, everywhere, past, present, and future tense. Jesus' death and resurrection save us from our own religiosity.
Download or read book The Gnostic Gospels written by Elaine Pagels and published by Random House. This book was released on 2004-06-29 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time The Gnostic Gospels is a landmark study of the long-buried roots of Christianity, a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Gnostic Gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence over the past two decades. It is now widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and accessible histories of early Christian spirituality published in our time. In 1945 an Egyptian peasant unearthed what proved to be the Gnostic Gospels, thirteen papyrus volumes that expounded a radically different view of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ from that of the New Testament. In this spellbinding book, renowned religious scholar Elaine Pagels elucidates the mysteries and meanings of these sacred texts both in the world of the first Christians and in the context of Christianity today. With insight and passion, Pagels explores a remarkable range of recently discovered gospels, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, to show how a variety of “Christianities” emerged at a time of extraordinary spiritual upheaval. Some Christians questioned the need for clergy and church doctrine, and taught that the divine could be discovered through spiritual search. Many others, like Buddhists and Hindus, sought enlightenment—and access to God—within. Such explorations raised questions: Was the resurrection to be understood symbolically and not literally? Was God to be envisioned only in masculine form, or feminine as well? Was martyrdom a necessary—or worthy—expression of faith? These early Christians dared to ask questions that orthodox Christians later suppressed—and their explorations led to profoundly different visions of Jesus and his message. Brilliant, provocative, and stunning in its implications, The Gnostic Gospels is a radical, eloquent reconsideration of the origins of the Christian faith.
Download or read book A Layman s Christianity written by Ken Dickason and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2010-11-17 with total page 179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sordid romance! Gripping intrigue! Fast-paced action! None of these really describe a book about theology, and they, surprisingly enough, do not apply to "A Layman's Christianity," either. However, if you are looking for a well thought out book, replete with scriptural references, written, not by a dreary doctorate of theology nor by a "hip," "young" pastor of a mega-lo-church, but by an average joe, then look no further. Written from a young man's perspective, "A Layman's Christianity" is a book that delves into the belief that every man has the right to think about who God is and what He wants from our lives and that phrase, "every man," is not restricted to age, gender, or educational background, but rather should be based on the author's commitment to God and his love for His Bible. "A Layman's Christianity" is not a "how-to-manual" for living a better Christian life, but is rather an outline of several characteristics and ideas that, taken together, form the author's ideal Christian. Leaving room open for argument and individual thought, "A Layman's Christianity" refuses to be taken at face value and insists that the reader check its assertions with the Bible, thus fulfilling the purpose of the book: that every man and woman who follows after God has the right and responsibility to think about Him and upon Him.
Download or read book The Magnificent Gift of Agency written by Gary Lawrence and published by . This book was released on 2020-03-15 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Holy Spirit and the Reformation Legacy written by Mark J. Cartledge and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2020-09-16 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of essays explores the legacy of the Reformation with regard to the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Following the five-hundredth anniversary of Luther's posting of his ninety-five theses, these essays consider this legacy with particular reference to the work of Martin Luther and John Calvin, as well as broader Reformation themes as they are related to pneumatology and the life of the church today. The contribution of this collection is to tease out and reflect on pneumatology historically but also to relate these findings to contemporary discussions, especially among scholars of pentecostal and charismatic Christianity. Together these essays invite readers to appreciate the contribution that the Protestant Reformation makes to life in the Holy Spirit today, as well as offering critical and constructive reflection on this theme. It is a timely and significant contribution to the discussions of the person and work of the Holy Spirit and the church.
Download or read book SOLID FOOD FOR JOURNEY EGYPT TO CANAAN HOW TO REJOIN THE NARROW PATH TO ETERNAL LIFE MAKE IT TO THE END written by Elizabeth Gata-Viki and published by ELIZABETH GATA-VIKI. This book was released on 2023-12-01 with total page 576 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is so much confusion and deception in the Church today. Just switch on the telly and you will see that Satan has largely succeeded in making a complete circus of the Church. There are so many false gospels, false doctrines, false teachers and false Christians. Even the true Bride has lost its way. Many are truly born again and trying hard to hold on, but they cannot understand why the Holy Spirit has been largely aloof in their lives, even for years. God knows those who are His, the true Bride, the good fish in the dragnet, the wheat, and this book is for them. This book is written for the beleaguered Bride to provide clear direction for her to find her way out of deception and back onto the narrow path that leads to Life. It is, in essence, an extended analogy which follows the trajectory of the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, to unpack what experiences a Christian should expect as they progress on their own journey to eternal life. This is that journey which can only be made on the narrow path to life which Jesus spoke of, and of which He solemnly warned that few Christians would find. The book projects the Christian life as the protracted journey that it is, not a single life-changing incident somewhere in one’s past. Focusing on areas of deep confusion and deception in the Church, it takes a candid and profound, but practical look at those doctrines which are so fundamental to the Christian life, and which form practical landmark pillars along that journey - salvation, justification, the new birth, sanctification, perfection and glorification. It is the passionate will of Jesus Christ, through this book, to bring to His besieged true Bride, truth and clarity of understanding of these areas, so that she may regain the narrow road and begin to steadily move forward towards the goal of the crown of salvation, that coveted prize of the Christian journey, which the Apostle Paul diligently laboured for, spoke so passionately of and finally attained himself, as we all should and can. This first part of the book takes a very close look at exactly how God works in His children profoundly to transform them and get them into heaven. Laying out very clearly what God’s expectations of us are, it also looks at our part in this work that He does, both in us and through us, with a focus on how to practically overcome our flesh, our first enemy. Mark 6:34 "And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things."
Download or read book The Great Dinosaur Mystery and the Bible written by Paul S. Taylor and published by David C Cook. This book was released on 1998-09-15 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This classic book explains how dinosaurs fit into the biblical story of creation. Newly revised to reflect recent scientific findings.
Download or read book Adult Bible Studies Winter 2021 2022 Student written by Gary Thompson and published by Cokesbury. This book was released on 2021-10-19 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Adult Bible Studies Winter 2021-2022 Theme: Engage Perhaps at no other time during the year is the call of our faith more at odds with culture than during Advent. The Christian season that calls us to wait is met with a culture that encourages us to decorate, entertain, buy, spend, and entertain, with calendars booked from season’s beginning to its end. Such ceaseless activity can blind us to the awe and wonder of God’s presence all around us, leaving us spiritually parched, empty, and unable to join in the life and work to which God calls us. These Bible lessons call us to wait and to respond with wonder to the God who came to us in Jesus Christ, thus equipping ourselves to bear witness to our faith. Unit 1: Wait for It Advent is a time of anticipation and waiting. This unit invites us to explore waiting as an important element in three episodes in Luke’s telling of the Christmas story. It ends with a reminder that as much as we are called to wait for the Lord, Jesus Christ waits patiently for us. Scriptures: Luke 1:5-25, 57-58; Luke 1:26-38, 57-58; Luke 2:25-38; Revelation 3:20-4:11 Spiritual Practice: Praying without ceasing Unit 2: Wonder We are a busy people rushing from place to place and task to task as the hands of the clock chase each other around the dial. We get caught up in the mundane reality of ordinary life and if we do not stop, we can so easily miss the extraordinary and sublime experience of entering into God’s presence. The lessons in this unit explore various ways human beings have experienced God’s glory. Scriptures: Psalm 19; Isaiah 6:1-13; Mark 9:2-8; Exodus 34:29-35; Revelation 19:1-10 Spiritual Practice: Singing/meditating on hymns of praise Unit 3: Show and Tell The lessons in this unit explore the various ways we can participate with God through our actions. When we read through both the Old and the New Testaments, we see that by engaging in life-giving activities, we join in the work to which God set our hands in the Garden of Eden. God calls us both to show and to tell others of our faith. Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 5:14-16; James 1:19-27; Matthew 28:16-20 Spiritual Practice: Testimony in word and deed Adult Bible Study components include: Student Book Published quarterly, each week's Student Book lesson lists background Scripture, features key verses, provides reliable and relevant biblical explanation and application, and more, in a readable font size that is accessible to everyone. Teacher Book/Commentary Kit Each quarterly Teacher/Commentary Kit includes a Teacher Book with additional biblical background and exposition and suggestions for guiding group discussion and a copy of the new quarterly Adult Bible Studies Concise Commentary, designed for readers who seek additional background on the biblical text for each session of Adult Bible Studies Video-DVD Does your group enjoy watching videos to generate conversation around Bible studies? Video sessions directly correspond to the Adult Bible Studies quarter’s theme and content and features a segment for each Bible lesson. Hundreds of thousands of people each week have transformative encounters with God through Adult Bible Studies—Bible-based, Christ-focused Sunday school lessons and midweek Bible studies endorsed by the Curriculum Resources Committee of the The United Methodist Church. In 2020, we reintroduced printed focal Bible passages in both the Student and Teacher books. Lessons follow the church seasons, including Advent and Lent, and include suggestions for developing spiritual practices to help nurture your faith. Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!
Download or read book Dangerous Prayers written by Craig Groeschel and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2020-02-04 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Be inspired to pray boldly, pray powerfully, pray with passion, and trade ineffective prayers and lukewarm faith for raw, daring prayers that will transform your daily life. Do you ever wonder if God answers your prayers? Do you wish you could see the evidence that prayer changes lives? Do you long for more than playing it safe in your faith? Join New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel as he helps you discover the power of authentically communicating with God, breaking out of the restrictive spiritual safety bubble, and expanding your ideas about what's possible with God. The Bible tells us that prayer has the power to move God's heart, but some prayers move him more than others. He wants more for us than a tepid faith and half-hearted routines at the dinner table. God called you to a life of courage, not comfort. In Dangerous Prayers, Groeschel will show you how to pray the prayers that search your soul, break your habits, and send you out to pursue the calling God has for you. But be warned: If you're fine with settling for what's easy, or if you're okay with staying on the sidelines, this book isn't for you. You'll be challenged. You'll be tested. You'll be moved to take a long, hard look at your heart. But you'll be inspired, too. Dangerous Prayers will give you the encouragement and tools you need to: Transform the patterns around your daily prayer life Truly embrace and believe in the power of intentional prayer Start to pray daring, faith-filled, God-honoring, life-changing, world-transforming prayers You'll discover the secret to overcoming fears of loss, rejection, failure, and the unknown, and you'll welcome the blessings God has for you on the other side. But best of all, you'll gain the courage it takes to pray dangerous prayers.
Download or read book A History of the End of the World written by Jonathan Kirsch and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2006-08-22 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "[The Book of] Revelation has served as a "language arsenal" in a great many of the social, cultural, and political conflicts in Western history. Again and again, Revelation has stirred some dangerous men and women to act out their own private apocalypses. Above all, the moral calculus of Revelation—the demonization of one's enemies, the sanctification of revenge taking, and the notion that history must end in catastrophe—can be detected in some of the worst atrocities and excesses of every age, including our own. For all of these reasons, the rest of us ignore the book of Revelation only at our impoverishment and, more to the point, at our own peril." The mysterious author of the Book of Revelation (or the Apocalypse, as the last book of the New Testament is also known) never considered that his sermon on the impending end times would last beyond his own life. In fact, he predicted that the destruction of the earth would be witnessed by his contemporaries. Yet Revelation not only outlived its creat∨ this vivid and violent revenge fantasy has played a significant role in the march of Western civilization. Ever since Revelation was first preached as the revealed word of Jesus Christ, it has haunted and inspired hearers and readers alike. The mark of the beast, the Antichrist, 666, the Whore of Babylon, Armageddon, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are just a few of the images, phrases, and codes that have burned their way into the fabric of our culture. The questions raised go straight to the heart of the human fear of death and obsession with the afterlife. Will we, individually or collectively, ride off to glory, or will we drown in hellfire for all eternity? As those who best manipulate this dark vision learned, which side we fall on is often a matter of life or death. Honed into a weapon in the ongoing culture wars between states, religions, and citizenry, Revelation has significantly altered the course of history. Kirsch, whom the Washington Post calls "a fine storyteller with a flair for rendering ancient tales relevant and appealing to modern audiences," delivers a far-ranging, entertaining, and shocking history of this scandalous book, which was nearly cut from the New Testament. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Black Death, the Inquisition to the Protestant Reformation, the New World to the rise of the Religious Right, this chronicle of the use and abuse of the Book of Revelation tells the tale of the unfolding of history and the hopes, fears, dreams, and nightmares of all humanity.
