Religious institutions and organizations Books

Book SynopsisShenoute of Atripe: stern abbot, loquacious preacher, patron of the poor and scourge of pagans in fifth-century Egypt. This book studies his numerous Coptic writings and finds them to be the important literary source for the study of society, economy and religion in late antique Egypt.Trade Review"Lopez's volume is an essential counterpart to the current dialogue on wealth and poverty in late ancient Christianity." Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewTable of ContentsPreface Introduction: "Rustic Audacity" 1. Loyal Opposition 2. A Miraculous Economy 3. Rural Patronage: Holy and Unholy 4. The Limits of Intolerance Conclusion Appendix A: The Chronology of Shenoute's Life and Activities Appendix B: The Sources List of Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWhat is the work that miracles do in American Charismatic Evangelicalism? How can miracles be unanticipated and yet worked for? And finally, what do miracles tell us about other kinds of Christianity and even the category of religion? This book deaks with these questions.Trade Review"A Diagram of Fire succeeds both as general theory and as finely drawn ethnography." * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS PROLOGUE INTRODUCTION: CLEARLY WRITTEN ON HIS FACE 1. VINEYARD TIME 2. INSTITUTIONS AND GOD'S AGENTS 3. A DIAGRAM FOR FIRE 4. TOLLE, LEGE: TALKING, READING, AND HEARING 5. THE LIVING ROOM SEMINARS: PEDAGOGIES OF THE SPIRIT, TYPIFICATION, AND ELABORATION 6. THE BODY, TONGUES, HEALING, AND DELIVERANCE 7. COLLAPSES, TRAVERSALS, AND INTENSIFICATIONS OF THE PART-CULTURE CONCLUSION: ON THE PROBLEM OF RELIGION AND ON RELIGION AS A PROBLEM NOTES WORKS CITED INDEX COMPLETE SERIES LIST

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Book SynopsisA major problem which occupied thinkers in the later Middle Ages was the question of the internal structure of the Church and the proper interrelationship of its members. Dr Tierney's book is an account of those canonistic theories of Church government which contributed to the growth of the conciliar theory, and which were formulated between Gratian's Decretum (c. 1140) and the Great Schism (1378). It is concerned particularly with the juristic development of the fundamental conciliar doctrine, the assertion that the universal Church was superior to the Church of Rome, with a consequent denial of the Pope's supreme authority.Table of ContentsPreface; List of abbreviations; Introductory: the conciliar theory and the Canonists; Part I. Decretists Theories of Church Goverment: 1. Pope and Church; 2. Pope and general council; 3. Pope and Cardinals; Part II. Aspects of Thirteenth-Century Ecclesiology: 4. Changing views of Church government; 5. The structure of a medieval ecclesiastical corporation; 6. The whole church as corporation; Part III. Conciliar Ideas in the Fourteenth Century: 7. John of Paris; 8. Conflicting criticisms of Papal monarchy; 9. The attitude of the academic Canonists; 10. Franciscus Zabarella; Conclusion; Appendices; List of works cited; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Order of the Temple, founded in 1119 to protect pilgrims around Jerusalem, developed into one of the most influential corporations in the medieval world. It has retained its hold on the modern imagination thanks to the dramatic events of the Templars' trial and abolition two hundred years later, and has been involved in historical mysteries from masonic conspiracy to the survival of the Turin shroud. Malcolm Barber's lucid narrative separates myth from history in this full and detailed account of the Order, from its origins, flourishing and suppression to the Templars' historical afterlife.

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Book Synopsis100 years ago, secular liberals thought religion would gradually recede from the public sphere and become an exclusively private concern. Today, organised religion is still a powerful political force in most parts of the world. In many its political significance has grown.Table of Contents1. Foreward: David Marquand and Ronald L. Nettler (Mansfield College, Oxford). 2. Secularism?: John Keane. 3. Living with Difference in India: Susanne Hoeber Rudolph and Lloyd Rudolph. 4. Religion and Democracy in Israel: Emanuele Ottolenghi. 5. Islam, Politics and Democracy: Mohamed Talbi and Islamic Modernism: Ronald L. Nettler. 6. Trajectories of Political Islam: Egypt, Iran and Turkey: Sami Zabaida. 7. American Fundamentalism and the Selling of God: Harold Perkin. 8. The Quiet Continent: Religion and Politics in Europe: Colin Crouch. 9. J.N.Figgis, Churches and the State: Paul Hirst. 10. Making the Christian World Safe for Liberalism: from Grotius to Rawls: Timothy Samuel Shah.

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Book SynopsisThe Soul of Discernment provides concrete steps for groups of people who work together and need to make important decisions: church sessions, nonprofit hiring committees, etc. Liebert calls this process the Social Discernment Cycle, a process for seeking God's call in a particular situation...Trade Review"A wonderful combination of rich theological reflection and acute social analysis makes the social discernment cycle a tool for spirit guided action at both personal and community levels. I found particularly helpful the many practical examples and exercises that flow from the author's rich experiences of guiding individuals and groups in discernment." -Peter J. Henriot, S.J., Director of Development, Loyola Jesuit Secondary School, Lilongwe, Malawi "The analysis of spiritual discernment has largely focused on individuals. Yet most contemporary leaders must involve teams when wrestling with strategic decisions affecting complex systems. The Soul of Discernment is a lucid and spiritually mature correction to this deficiency. It provides wise guidelines to system level leaders wishing to integrate spiritual wisdom and grace with contemporary organizational decisions." -Andre L. Delbecq, J. Thomas and Kathleen L. McCarthy University Professor, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University

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Book SynopsisMore than a conventional biography, Grant Wacker’s interpretive study deepens our understanding of why Billy Graham has mattered so much to so many, and how his uncanny ability to appropriate trends in the wider culture allowed him to transform his born-again theology into a moral vocabulary capturing the aspirations and fears of average Americans.Trade ReviewWacker’s style is clear and engaging, and Graham’s story has plenty to recommend it… What makes Wacker’s book not just readable but engrossing, however, is what it reveals about American evangelicalism. Many of evangelicalism’s most salient characteristics seem to inhere in the person and career of Billy Graham. -- Barton Swaim * Wall Street Journal *Excellent… It is not a biography, but rather a disciplined, admirably fair-minded effort to understand and explain how 20th-century American culture produced a figure like Billy Graham, and how Graham in turn helped to shape that same culture. -- Robert P. George * New York Times Book Review *Wacker has spent the better part of his career observing the battle over Graham’s legacy. His biography America’s Pastor is an exhaustive and judicious effort to settle this cultural obsession with Graham and assess his influence. Other scholars have written doorstop-size narrative accounts of Graham’s life, tracing events from his childhood on a North Carolina dairy farm through his massive revival campaigns and frequent visits to the White House. Wacker has produced a different kind of book. He has, it appears, read every work of scholarship about Graham, from the mightiest bestseller to the lowliest unpublished doctoral thesis. He has combed through a mountain of archival sources. The result is not a conventional biography, but a series of interpretive essays that evaluate Graham’s various roles in twentieth-century America, from ‘Preacher’ and ‘Entrepreneur’ to ‘Southerner’ and evangelical ‘Patriarch.’ The result is the most comprehensive and balanced analysis of Billy Graham ever published. -- Molly Worthen * The Nation *This is a major book by a major historian of American religion about a major religious figure in American history… [A] magnificently written and meticulously researched study of what Billy Graham meant at different times to Americans and what America meant to an evolving Billy Graham. -- Kenneth L. Woodward * America *It is required reading for anyone seriously interested in evangelicalism, 20th century American history, or the sociology of religion… For a thematic view of how Graham affected (and was affected by) American culture, Wacker’s book is unparalleled. And if you’re one of the many evangelicals under 40 who are only vaguely aware of how Graham shaped your world, you need this book. -- Ted Olsen * Christianity Today *[Wacker’s] writing is accessible and vivid. And he takes a great deal of care in fleshing out the nuances of Graham’s life and sketching the ways Graham emerged out of the fundamentalist movement and came to reshape the contours of American evangelicalism to the degree that he became a spokesperson for an American Protestantism committed to Jesus but tolerant and peaceful toward others. Neither do Wacker’s insights overlook criticism of Graham, especially in the area of race… Wacker doesn’t sugarcoat Graham’s shortcomings, but this is, for the most part, a sympathetic portrayal of a preacher who helped a subgroup of devout Christians move from the sidelines to the center. -- Yonat Shimron * News & Observer *A fascinating read for all who recognize Billy Graham’s unique and powerful ministry and wonder if we will see his like again. -- Martin Poole * Baptist Times *Beautifully written…[and] the best general study of the Billy Graham Phenomenon… America’s Pastor charts a parallel evolution in Graham’s social and political career, and with a parallel ideological structure. -- Mark Knoll * Books & Culture *Lively and learned… Highly readable. -- Stephen J. Whitfield * Chronicle of Higher Education *It is a major work that gives insight not only into the achievement of Billy Graham but into American history in the second half of the 20th Century. Graham’s flaws and his successes are fairly recorded. -- Paul Richardson * Church of England Newspaper *Unlike many accounts of Billy Graham’s life and ministry, Grant Wacker’s America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation does not construct a heroic fable, nor does he deconstruct the evangelist as a lumbering proselytizer… Wacker’s analysis of Graham’s strengths and weaknesses is thorough and fair… An iconic life that America’s Pastor captures so well. -- Robert L. Kehoe III * First Things *Wacker’s engaging, comprehensive, and sympathetic (although not uncritical) study of Graham’s multifaceted career is an admirable introduction both to Graham and to the evangelical movement he worked so hard to build. -- Walter Russel Mead * Foreign Affairs *[Wacker] adds to the voluminous Graham literature with a scholarly yet captivating narrative that situates Graham alongside King and John Paul II as the men most responsible under God for shaping our current spiritual climate, especially in the United States. -- Collin Hansen * The Gospel Coalition *Wacker’s examination of Graham’s place in U.S. politics and culture forms one of the most interesting, and at times surprising, aspects of his book… There is much in the book that even a reader with only a passing interest in modern religion will find interesting. -- David Woolner * Irish Times *Wacker, who admires Graham, though not uncritically so, examines the evolution that took place from the hell fire and brimstone preacher three-quarters of a century ago to the polished international communicator, renowned throughout the world… This book is an honest appraisal of the man himself and the organization of which he was a part. It’s thoroughly researched and worth reading. -- Paul Hulme * Methodist Recorder *What a book. I think it is hard for those of us who have lived in the Billy Graham era to recognize just how significant this time has been in the history of the church… This volume traces the life of Graham, and fits his ministry in the context of American cultural, political, and religious history. -- Russell Moore * Moore to the Point (blog) *Provides a judicious assessment of Graham’s six decades as a preacher, pastor, public figure, entrepreneur, southerner, and icon. -- Glenn C. Altschuler * The Oregonian *[Graham’s] legacy deserves as fine a book as this one. -- Peter Smith * Pittsburgh Post-Gazette *This is a fascinating book which is hard to put down. Beautifully written, with humor and compassion as well as critical rigor… Exploring [Graham’s] steady but dramatic transformation makes absorbing reading and brought me hope for the rest of us. -- Ruth Allen * Reform *America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation is a timely cultural biography. One of the world authorities on the subject of American Evangelicalism, Wacker makes a strong claim for Graham’s historical importance. -- Jon M. Sweeney * The Tablet *Wacker examines not so much what Graham did as how he did it—a matter of manners and management as much as of vision and talent… Wacker’s procedure allows appreciation of how Graham affected the image of the modern southerner (he desegregated his crusades in 1954); helped shape the new evangelicalism out of fundamentalist, Pentecostal, and the older evangelical churches; and much more, primarily through embodying at their best the middle-class American culture and mores in which he was raised. Wacker doesn’t shrink, however, from showing how Graham’s fascination with presidential politics led him astray repeatedly while allowing that he was a genuine spiritual counselor to the presidents—Lyndon Johnson, in particular. If a great subject deserves a great book, Billy Graham has one. -- Ray Olson * Booklist (starred review) *The work of a church historian in his best form, this masterpiece presents a fine-grained study of America’s best-known preacher and his role in the shaping of mainstream Evangelicalism in the mid-20th century… Wacker’s close study gives readers a glimpse of Graham’s complexity, including the paradoxes that made him both beloved and controversial. -- B. W. Hamilton * Choice *A scholarly, analytical and sympathetic biography of the evangelist Billy Graham…We emerge with a more complete, nuanced understanding of Graham’s personality and ministry…Also shows us a profoundly authentic Graham, a true believer, a man who was not mercenary, who practiced what he preached, whose principal weaknesses might have been his name-dropping and hobnobbing with the rich and the powerful. * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *Wacker’s analysis situates the salient elements of Graham’s remarkable success and longevity in the chaotic American social and religious consciousness of the 20th century…In the intersection of ego and message, Wacker excels at examining Graham’s complex public/private persona…A valuable look at the pastor of 20th-century American religious consciousness. -- Sandra Collins * Library Journal *In this elegantly written and compulsively readable account, Wacker…probes the ways that Graham touched so many so deeply while aiming to provide the moral voice for a nation. Interweaving biography with social and intellectual history, Wacker suggests that Graham’s brilliance shone brightly from his many facets—preacher, pastor, Southerner, and entrepreneur, among others—and so his hearers had many ways to see themselves reflected in him. In the end, Wacker points out that Graham’s pragmatic vision of an America that’s true to its ideals enabled him to adapt trends in the wider culture for his own evangelistic and moral-reform purposes. * Publishers Weekly *A striking and authoritative account of one of the most influential Americans of recent times. Wacker writes gracefully and offers a fund of astute insights. By exploring Graham’s background, his character, his beliefs, and his work, he reveals how Graham could move so comfortably among the powerful and at the same time always be able to speak effectively to so many ordinary people. Both Graham’s admirers and his critics will come away from America’s Pastor with a fresh appreciation of the man and his world. -- George M. Marsden, author of The Twilight of the American Enlightenment: The 1950s and the Crisis of Liberal BeliefGrant Wacker has given us a superb—and richly detailed—portrait of Billy Graham, presented in the context of a solid cultural and historical analysis of the era in which Graham served as the kind of religious leader we are not likely to see again. And all of this from a marvelous storyteller. Wacker’s deeply moving epilogue can stand alone as a model of inspiring prose! -- Richard J. Mouw, Professor of Faith and Public Life and former President, Fuller Theological SeminaryAmerica’s Pastor is a masterful study of the life and influence of Billy Graham. With power and grace, Grant Wacker explains who Graham was, how his message and organization developed, and why he came to exercise such extraordinary influence in America. It is the most incisive—and accessible—study of Billy Graham that has been written. -- Nathan O. Hatch, President, Wake Forest UniversityBilly Graham has finally gotten the book he deserves. Written by one of the finest American religious historians of our time, this book is as captivating as Graham himself: eloquent, incisive, witty, and empathetic. I couldn’t put it down. -- Catherine A. Brekus, author of Sarah Osborn’s World: The Rise of Evangelical Christianity in Early AmericaGrant Wacker brings his incomparable historical skills to illuminate an icon of American Protestant life. His treatment is at once deeply humane and extraordinarily learned, and he examines Graham’s foundational status with a breathtaking range and savvy. In these pages we come to know Graham, but more importantly, we gain profound insight into the broadest contours of U.S. religious life in the last half of the twentieth century. -- Laurie Maffly-Kipp, author of Setting Down the Sacred Past: African-American Race Histories

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Book SynopsisHelp and comfort for churchwardens in the form of a humorous, illustrated monthly calendar of handy tips.

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Book SynopsisIn 2017, the remains of 796 babies were found in a septic tank on the site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home, a home run by nuns which took in orphans and unmarried mothers until it closed in 1961. Bridget Dolan gave birth to two boys there. Her daughter Anna puts on the record the life of Bridget and all the forgotten women and children of the home

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Book SynopsisThis unique collection of translated sources offers a valuable insight into the lives of those who joined, supported and attacked this most fascinating and enigmatic of institutions. This book charts the origins of the Order through to the circumstances of its suppression and dissolution. -- .Table of ContentsForewordPrefaceChronologyNotesMapsHistorical introduction1. Foundation and privileges2. Warfare and politics3. Religions and charitable functions4. Humans and material resources5. Attitudes towards the Templars6. The trialBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisFaith-based organizations are sometimes known for what we''re against--and all too often that includes being against each other. But amid growing distrust of religious institutions, Christ-centered nonprofits have a unique opportunity to link arms and collectively pursue a calling higher than any one organization''s agenda.Rooting for Rivals reveals how your ministry can multiply its impact by cooperating, rather than competing. Peter Greer and Chris Horst explore case studies illustrating the power of collaborative ministry. They also vulnerably share their own failures and successes in pursuing a kingdom mind-set. Discover the power of openhanded leadership to make a greater impact on the world.'I love the African quote, ''If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'' I''m grateful to Peter Greer and Chris Horst for celebrating Christ-centered teamwork and collaboration in Rooting for Rivals.'--RICHARD S

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Book SynopsisBecoming a great leader is more about prioritizing self-awareness and people skills than innovative ideas and high levels of productivity. With his transparent and relatable storytelling, Chad Veach addresses three phases of becoming a quality leader, and urges you to lean in to your leadership potential regardless of your level of influence or experience.

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Book SynopsisCoerced into taking the veil, Venetian writer Arcangela Tarabotti (16041652) spent her life protesting the practice of forcing girls into convents. Her fearless defense of women and attacks on patriarchal Venetian society earned her renown and access to the presses. Her publications, however, invited constant controversy. Tarabotti published herLetters Familiar and Formalto protect and enhance her literary reputation while also chronicling contemporary literary society and material existence in an early modern convent. TheLettersflaunted Tarabotti's literary accomplishments, humiliated her critics, and advertised her powerful network of allies in Northern Italy and France. The Letters document how Tarabotti established herself as one of the most forceful proponents for women's self-determination in early modern Europe.Trade Review"After their Italian edition of Tarabotti’s Lettere, Meredith Ray and Lynn Westwater have now produced the definitive English translation of this remarkable text: clear, accurate and lively -- a delight to read. Their introduction sets the historical and cultural context, while meticulous notes fully explain each letter. Altogether, compelling reading that brings the extraordinary story told by Tarabotti's Letters to English-speaking audience for the first time." * -Letizia Panizza, University of London *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments xiIntroductionArcangela Tarabotti: A Life of Letters 1A Note on the Translation 41Abbreviations 44Map of Seventeenth-Century Venice including the Convent of Sant’Anna 45Letters Familiar and Formal Presented by Arcangela Tarabotti to Her Most Illustrious and Esteemed Patron Giovan Francesco Loredano 47The Tears of Arcangela Tarabotti upon the Death of the Most Illustrious Signora Regina Donati 285Bibliography 297Index 309

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Book SynopsisThe Communion and Liberation movement, founded by Monsignor Luigi Giussani, is based on the belief that salvation is possible for everyone. It requires only that Christ be recognized as immediately present. Communion and Liberation: A Movement in the Church describes the origins of this movement and discusses the path it has taken.

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Book SynopsisA critical examination of the recruitment and formation of American Catholic nuns during the final decades of convent expansion.Trade Review" Brian Titley' s comprehensive use of historical records from several religious institutes and individual memoirs significantly extends the existing body of knowledge. Into Silence and Servitude is likely to become a standard reference on mid-century religious life in the United States." Mary L. Gautier, Georgetown University

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Book SynopsisSet against a backdrop of war and revolution, this book brings sixty years of missionary nursing out of the shadows by examining how Canadian nurses shaped health care in the province of Henan and how China, in turn, influenced the nature of missionary nursing.Trade ReviewGrypma constructs a historical account of Canadian nurses’ work in China while exploring the interplay of professional nursing with issues such as religion, gender, culture, health, and nation. […] Supported with excellent documentation and evidence, Healing Henan is well-written and exciting reading, and it sheds new light on the significance of the efforts by nurses and doctors in a Chinese province. The book also provides the reader with a close view of the ambitions, struggles, and accomplishments of Canadian nurses in Henan, and it will appeal to anyone interested in the history of religious nursing. -- Anne Marie Overgaard * Nursing History Review, 2009 *The author, Associate Professor of Nursing at Trinity Western University, left no research stone unturned […]. Dr. Sonya Grypma brought to life the character and personality of the nurses, the nature and importance of their work, their length of service, and the impact of their work. There has been little written about nursing in China. Most history has been dedicated to individual profiles instead of unified efforts by a group of professionals. The author has changed that in this book. The publication should be of interest to students of Chinese history, nursing history, and especially to medical missionaries that are planning a clinic, hospital, or short-term medical team to an undeveloped field. -- William L. Capps * Missiology, An International Review *This ambitiously titled and carefully worked study by Sonya Grypma, a historian of nursing, documents a period in the history of medical missions in China involving Canadian nurses working in Henan who were members of the so-called North China Mission of the former Presbyterian Church (since 1925, the United Church) of Canada.[…] Grypma is to be thanked for lifting such a veil of forgetting, giving names and (by inserting photographs) faces to the otherwise anonymous nurses, Canadian mainly, but also Chinese. -- Christoffer H. Grundmann * International Bulletin of Missionary Research *Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordAcknowledgmentsList of SpellingsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction1 The Gospel of Soap and Water, 1888-19002 Visions Interrupted, 1901-203 Modern Nursing at Last, 1921-274 Golden Years, 1928-375 Scattered Dreams, 1937-406 War Years, 1941-457 The Last Days, 1946-47Conclusion: Creating a Cloistered SpaceEpilogue: Return to Henan, 2003AppendicesAppendix 1: List of Missionary Nurses at North China MissionAppendix 2: List of WMS Nurses Who Resigned to be MarriedAppendix 3: Three Types of Missionary NursesAppendix 4: Missionary Nurse EducationAppendix 5: Summary of 1947 Confidential ReportNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe YWCA arrived in China as a cultural interloper in 1899. How did activist Christian Chinese women maintain their identity and social relevance through the tumultuous first half of the twentieth century? The YWCA in China explores how the Young Women's Christian Association responded to the needs of Chinese women and society both before and after the 1949 revolution ushered in a communist state. Western secretaries originally defined the Chinese YWCA movement, but successive generations of Chinese leadership localized its Western-defined organizational ethos. Over time, the Y became class conscious and progressive as Chinese women transformed it from a vehicle for moral and material uplift to an instrument for social action and an organizational citizen of China. And after 1949, national YWCA leaders supported the Maoist regime because they believed the social goals of the YWCA aligned with Mao's revolutionary aims. The YWCA in China is a fascinating investigatioTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Creating a YWCA Movement in China, 1899–19252 Making a Chinese Leadership, 1925–363 Seeking a Place in a Social Revolution, 1926–364 Claiming National Citizenship, 1937–485 Embracing the Maoist State, 1949–506 Cultivating a Socialist Mindset, 1951–57ConclusionGlossary; Notes; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisThis NKJV Large Print Thinline Bible is inviting to pick up and hard to put down. Unique to this edition, the words of Christ are highlighted in a restful blue ink that’s easy to read and colorblind-friendly.The slim design of the NKJV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible means you can bring it along, wherever your day takes you. This large print edition features Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print®, designed to provide a smooth reading experience of the accurate and beautiful New King James Version. And with features including extensive cross-references, concordance, and full-color maps, you’ll still have the tools to get more out of God’s Word. Features include: Presentation page to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or a note Words of Christ in blue quickly identify verses spoken

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Book SynopsisThis NKJV Large Print Thinline Bible is inviting to pick up and hard to put down. Unique to this edition, the words of Christ are highlighted in a restful blue ink that’s easy to read and colorblind-friendly.The slim design of the NKJV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible means you can bring it along, wherever your day takes you. This large print edition features Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print®, designed to provide a smooth reading experience of the accurate and beautiful New King James Version. And with features including extensive cross-references, concordance, and full-color maps, you’ll still have the tools to get more out of God’s Word. Features include: Presentation page to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or a note Words of Christ in blue quickly identify verses spoken

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Book SynopsisThis NKJV Large Print Thinline Bible is inviting to pick up and hard to put down. Unique to this edition, the words of Christ are highlighted in a restful blue ink that’s easy to read and colorblind-friendly.The slim design of the NKJV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible means you can bring it along, wherever your day takes you. This large print edition features Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print®, designed to provide a smooth reading experience of the accurate and beautiful New King James Version. And with features including extensive cross-references, concordance, and full-color maps, you’ll still have the tools to get more out of God’s Word. Features include: Presentation page to personalize this special gift by recording a memory or a note Words of Christ in blue quickly identify verses spoken

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Book SynopsisThis large print thinline NKJV Bible edition is stunning inside and out, with unique finishes such as blue-letter words of Christ, beautiful covers, and an etched gilding design on the page edges.

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Book SynopsisWe''ve all got a lot of questions these days: In a world marked by division, how do we create bridges of meaningful connection? When despair runs rampant, is real hope possible? When competition is elevated, is compassion still relevant? And at the end of the day, can one person really make any impact at all?When the world''s problems loom large and your ordinary life stretches you thin, it is still possible to be a difference-maker--one small, intentional, extravagant act of kindness at a time.Rather than telling you to do more, The Simple Difference shows you how to see more: more of the people in front of you, more of God''s lavish love for you, more of his power within you. The Simple Difference will help you- stop getting buried in busyness and distraction and discover countless opportunities for impact right where you are- remove your perceived limitations and learn to see that your 'not-enough' is exactly what the wo

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Book SynopsisA fresh look at heaven's pattern of worship, instituted in David's tabernacle and renewed through Jesus' apostles. Readers are invited to enter in to a fullness of worship that is the conduit of God's government of peace, justice, and holiness on earth.

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Book SynopsisPastor, Bible teacher, and Gospel Coalition leader combines timeless biblical principles with specific examples and practical insight, giving pastors and leaders in struggling churches hope and strategies for revitalization.

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Book SynopsisIt''s no secret that the evangelism methods of yesterday are not yielding the kinds of results they did in the 1970s and 1980s. So how are new Christians hearing the Gospel today? How are they finding churches? And what makes them stay at a church? The answers to these questions have the power to dramatically alter the way we do outreach. And Dr. McIntosh has them.Based on ten years of scientific research, Growing God''s Church shows pastors and church leaders how people are actually coming to faith in the 21st century. It covers factors such as our motive for ministry, the priorities churches set for themselves, the reality of churchless Christians, generational and gender-based differences in evangelism effectiveness, the name of your church, the influence of pastors, and much more. The appendix includes a copy of the survey that provides the basis for McIntosh''s arguments and an overview of the study is provided in the first chapter.

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Book SynopsisThe team that brought you Sticky Faith reveals a landmark study to provide a customizable roadmap of six essential strategies of churches that engage and retain teenagers and young adults, thus invigorating the entire church.

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Book SynopsisRevised edition gives readable case studies, more material on conflict resolution and specific applications on how to transform culture from the mission field.Table of ContentsPreface1. Transferring or Transforming Culture?2. A Model for Analysis of Social Order3. Property: The Silent Enemy of Church Growth4. Labor and Productivity: Divisive Values in Mission5. Generosity and Exchange: The Stone of Stumbling in Interpersonal Relationships6. Authority and Family: The Foundation of Social Order7. Authority and Community: The Context of Local Churches8. Disputes, Conflicts, and Communication: To Command or to Serve?9. Transforming Culture References Scripture Index Subject Index

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Book SynopsisWith nearly fifty years combined global church-planting experience, Craig Ott and Gene Wilson are well qualified to write a comprehensive, up-to-date guide for cross-cultural church planting. Combining substantive biblical principles and missiological understanding with practical insights, this book walks readers through the various models and development phases of church planting. Advocating methods that lead to church multiplication, the authors emphasize the role of the missionary church planter. They offer helpful reflection on current trends and provide best practices gathered from research and empirical findings around the globe. The book takes up a number of special issues not addressed in most church planting books, such as use of short-term teams, partnerships, and wise use of resources. Full of case studies and real examples from around the world, this practical text will benefit students, church planters, missionaries, and missional church readers.Table of ContentsContentsPrologue: The Parable of the Apple TreesPart I: Biblical Foundations1. The Task of Church Planting2. The Reasons for Church Planting3. New Testament BeginningsPart II: Strategic Considerations4. Church Multiplication and Indigenous Church-Planting Movements5. Apostolic Church Planters6. The Shape of the Church7. Pioneer, Reproduction, and Regional Approaches to Church PlantingPart III: Development Phases8. The Developmental Phases of a Church Plant: An Overview9. Preparing, Part 1: Targeting and Commissioning10. Preparing, Part 2: Understanding and Strategizing11. Launching: Evangelism and Discipleship12. Establishing: Congregating and Maturing13. Structuring: Expanding and Empowering14. Reproducing: Strengthening and SendingPart IV: Critical Factors15. The Personal Life of Church Planters16. Church-Planting Teams17. Developing Servants, Leaders, and Planters18. Partnerships and Resources in Church Planting19. Planting Churches with Kingdom ImpactEpilogueWorks CitedIndex

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Book SynopsisOffers cutting-edge research and biblical analysis of three generations so churches can minister more effectively within and across generational lines.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction1. Boomers at Large2. Boomers in Light of the Bible3. Priorities for Ministry with Boomers4. Generation X: The Lost Middle Child5. Xers in Light of the Bible6. Priorities for Ministry with Xers7. Millennials: Apple of the Eye8. Millennials in Light of the Bible9. Priorities for Ministry with Millennials: Getting in the GameConclusionIndexes

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Book SynopsisStarting a church from scratch? Start here! Launch offers specific strategies for beginning a church with no members, no money, and no staff. Readers get clear, practical how-to strategies for quickly raising funds, creating a team, planning services, effective evangelism, and rapidly developing a growing membership. Specific advice is included for reaching that often difficult-to-target demographic, the 20- to 40-year-old. Now thoroughly revised and expanded to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of church planting.

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Book SynopsisNo matter how big an organization, we all do ministry with a team, whether paid or volunteer. Anyone who has been part of a great team knows it''s something special. When there is good chemistry, everyone is operating from their sweet spot, the objectives are clear, and kingdom progress is being made, it is incredibly fulfilling and fun.On the flip side, we''re painfully aware what happens when there is dysfunction in the team--stress, tension, politics, and posturing. It''s not much fun for anyone, and we end up squandering our divine assignment.Lance Witt, founder of Replenish ministries and a former executive and teaching pastor at Saddleback Church, knows what it takes to keep teams functioning at the highest level of impact. He shows leaders how to build next-level teams that are spiritually, emotionally, and relationally healthy and productive and high-performing. Short, to-the-point chapters make the book easy to digest and the perfect resource for you

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Book SynopsisThe key to growth as a church, youth ministry, or a business is getting first-time guests to come back. And as any good manager of a hotel, a store, a restaurant, or an attraction knows, the key to getting guests to come back is not actually the rooms or the product or the food itself; it''s how guests feel when they''re there. It''s about hospitality. No matter how much effort and time we spend on excellence--stirring worship time, inspiring sermons, a good coffee blend in the foyer--what our guests really want when they come to our churches is to feel welcome, comfortable, and understood.Written by a church consultant and a hospitality expert, The Come Back Effect shows church, ministry, and even business leaders the secret to helping a first-time guest return again and again. Through an engaging, story-driven approach, they explain how service and hospitality are two different things, show how Jesus practiced hospitality, and invite leaders to develop and implement

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Book SynopsisChurch leaders want to know how to make their small groups work. Drawing from the startling success of small groups at The Journey Church, Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas debunk the myths, set the record straight, and show how church leaders can implement a healthy small group ministry that gets the maximum number of people involved and solves many of the important problems facing churches of all sizes. These practical strategies will produce life-changing results.

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Book SynopsisChurches over the past generations have been weakened by a failure to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of their communities. Many have adopted a narrow vision, focusing on only one aspect of ministry. But in today''s environment of faith-based opportunities many Christians are eager to start reaching out to their world with both Good News and good works, and therefore they are searching for appropriate ways to integrate both into their ministry. In Churches That Make a Difference, best-selling author Ron Sider and his coauthors give those involved in community outreach a comprehensive resource for developing holistic ministry--a balance of evangelism and social outreach. Illustrations and helpful organizational tips detail the how-to''s of an effective holistic ministry. Case studies that show how different churches across the United States reach out to their communities provide a variety of ideas and practical applications. User-friendly tools are incl

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Book SynopsisThis book explains the impact of age and size on churches and outlines the improvements that must be made at each point for a church to remain fruitful and faithful to its mission.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever imagined what it would be like to enter into a business partnership with God? In The 25 Biblical Laws of Partnership with God, William Douglas and Rubens Teixeira reveal that God wants to be a part of not just your spiritual life but your entire life. God wants to participate in your career, your workplace, and the way you do business. The 25 biblical laws offer a spiritual agenda with practical results, providing answers to such questions as - How should a Christian act at work? - If the owner of a company is a follower of the Bible, how should they treat their employees and clients? - Should the products sold or the services rendered by a partner of God be special in any way?In this book, you''ll learn how to build a business partnership with God, changes you can make in your work habits, and the laws you should follow to reap the benefits of your partnership with God and others.

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