Religious social and pastoral thought and activity Books

Book SynopsisThis workbook accompanies Wayne Grudem's bestselling Systematic Theology and features student-friendly review material and exercises.

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Book SynopsisLearn to leverage privilege.Privilege is a social consequence of our unwillingness to reckon with and turn from sin. But properly stewarded, it can help us see and participate in God''s inbreaking kingdom. Scripture repeatedly affirms that privilege is real and declares that, rather than exploiting it for selfish gain or feeling immobilized by it, Christians have a responsibility to leverage it.Subversive Witness asks us to grapple with privilege, indifference, and systemic sin in new ways by using biblical examples to reveal the complex nature of privilege and Christians'' responsibility in stewarding it well.Dominique DuBois Gilliard highlights several people in the Bible who understood this kingdom call. Through their stories, you will discover how to leverage privilege to: Resist Sin Stand in Solidarity with the Oppressed Birth Liberation Create Systemic Change Proclaim the Good News

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Book SynopsisExplore Answers to Life''s Most Important Theological Questions. Over 175,000 Copies Sold!How do we know the Bible is God''s Word? What is sin and where did it come from? How is Jesus fully God and fully man? What are spiritual gifts? When and how will Christ return?If you''ve asked questions like these, then systematic theology is no abstract term. It''s an approach to finding answers every Christian needs to know. The second edition of Bible Doctrine takes a widely used upper-level textbook on systematic theology and makes it accessible. Abridged from the second edition of Wayne Grudem''s award-winning Systematic Theology, Bible Doctrine covers the same essentials of the faith, giving you a firm grasp on seven key topics: The Doctrine of the Word of God The Doctrine of God The Doctrine of Man The Doctrine of Christ The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption

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Book SynopsisHow cultivating a healthy fear of God liberates us from our fear of others, our fear of the future, and even our fear of death itself.At times the world feels like it''s losing its mind. From politics to the pandemic, we live with an ever-increasing uncertainty, and many of us have grown to fear the rapid disintegration of our society and our own lives.Recovering Our Sanity is not another self-help book about how to beat your daily fears for a better life. It''s a book that will show you the gravity and glory of a God who''s worthy of our fear. It’s a book that will reveal how these two biblical phrases—Fear God and Do Not Be Afraid—are not contradictory but actually one coherent message.Michael Horton—Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary—shows us that we cannot fight our fears by seeking the absence of fear altogether, but by living with a fear of God that driTrade Review'Horton offers not only a penetrating analysis of our current fear-driven cultural moment, but also provides a way forward that is both transcendent and timely. Do you need help and encouragement navigating the stormy seas of life? Then take up and read this important book.' * Julius J. Kim, president, The Gospel Coalition *'Horton shows you how to identify and fight against fear--supplanting the quivering of a limbic system with the adoration of a heart set free.' * Russell Moore, Christianity Today *'Recovering Our Sanity provides a biblical and historical foundation for developing (and perhaps changing) our thinking about the most polarizing issues of our day. We need reasoned argument grounded in scripture and gospel hope centered on Christ, which is exactly what this book provides.' * Nancy Guthrie, author and bible teacher *'When we lose a good fear of God, all kinds of bad fears rush in. But when we see other people from God's perspective, they're gifts and not threats. In this critical moment gripped by fear, we desperately need this message.' * John M. Perkins, author, Let Justice Roll Down and One Blood *'Whether you're a church leader or a church member, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. Gather a group for discussion. Give it away for free. It's time to stop the insanity that divides us and embrace the sanity that comes from the fear of the Lord.' * Juan R. Sanchez, senior pastor, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, Texas *'Yet again, Michael Horton has written a book that Christians across the nation--and around the world--need to pick up and read today. If sanity is going to be recovered, it needs to start in the church.' * Ben Sasse, U. S. Senator (Neb.) and author of Them: Why We Hate Each Other--and How to Heal *

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Book SynopsisJesus for President is a radical manifesto to awaken the Christian political imagination, reminding us that our ultimate hope lies not in partisan political options but in Jesus and the incarnation of the peculiar politic of the church as a people set apart from this world.This collaboration between Shane Claiborne''s writing and stories, Chris Haw''s reflections and research, and Chico Fajardo-Heflin''s 4-color art and design creates lyrical theology that poetically weaves together words and images to sing (rather than dictate) its message.This one-of-a-kind book includes: Messages drawn from biblical theologians Lessons from church history Examples from modern-day saints and ordinary radicals A poetic and illustrative perspective of faith This book is perfect for those who seek to follow Jesus, rediscover the spirit of the early church, and represent the kingdom of God.

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Book SynopsisThis six-session small group Bible study, start> Becoming a Good Samaritan, helps believers learn how to make an individual difference today, right where they live.

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Book SynopsisThough we often hear about the gay problem today, there is an even deeper problem in the church today--one that we often overlook. The call to follow Christ is a call to costly obedience for all, not just for gay Christians. Far too often, the church has elevated homosexuality above other sins and required a costly obedience from gays that it is unwilling to demand of others. And yet, the answer is not to weaken the demands of obedience. Instead, gay Christians who make the difficult choice to align their lives with the biblical view of sexuality are a gift to the church, reminding all of us that spiritual growth and maturity is costly. There is a price to pay in following Christ and devoting our lives to the call of the gospel, and it is one that we all must pay--gay and straight Christians alike.Through the stories and struggles of gay Christians who are reorienting their lives around the costly obedience required to follow Christ, Mark Yarhouse and Olya Zaporozhets call thTrade ReviewChristians almost universally agree that we are called to love our nonheterosexual (LGBTQ+) neighbors. Yet the widespread perception is that we're doing a poor job of it, first and foremost because we do not listen. Informed by first-of-its-kind research among those followers of Christ who often call themselves 'celibate gays,' this book is essential reading for church and parachurch leaders concerned about the integrity of their ministries and the witness of their congregations and organizations. This book can inform and guide church leaders toward deeper empathy and more effective ministry in a truly marginalized portion of the communities that they serve (and the much larger circle of those who care about them). At a time when the church is on trial before a watching secular world--and often regarded as a bastion of hatred and homophobia--this book offers real solutions and challenges. You will not be disappointed. * Stanton L. Jones, professor of psychology, Wheaton College *Costly Obedience makes a significant contribution to broader LGB research by considering often neglected aspects of diversity at the intersection of sexuality and religion/spirituality. Sound research on chosen celibacy and/or mixed-orientation marriages is almost nonexistent in the professional literature. This kind of rigorous and reflective study is long overdue! In their scholarship, Yarhouse and Zaporozhets give voice to the lived experience of courageous persons who are negotiating the worlds of faith and same-sex attraction, often caught between a suspicious general culture and an agitated Christian community. In the end, this research narrative speaks to both, calling for deeper understanding of persons who have been largely denied or overlooked. Even more, Yarhouse and Zaporozhets help us understand that we all need to know these colleagues, friends, and family members. Their experience speaks to us. * Stephen P. Stratton, professor of counseling and pastoral care, Asbury Theological Seminary *Following nearly two decades of research, Mark Yarhouse and his colleagues have brought to light a growing body of believers who identify as gay, experience enduring and stable same-sex attractions, and firmly believe that same-sex behavior is morally impermissible. They are highly religious and desire to carry their faith into all aspects of their lives. In this newest work, Costly Obedience, a simple question echoes throughout: 'Is there a place for these individuals within the church?' The authors answer in the affirmative but point out that the church has not always been well prepared to assimilate these fellow believers. Throughout these pages the reader will learn much about this group, but more importantly he or she will be presented with a challenge that goes beyond merely 'accepting' celibate gay Christians into the church community. These believers offer a fresh perspective and model a costly obedience often lacking in today's Western church. This important book will have value not only to pastors and lay leaders but to the church at large, as parishioners seek to create the kind of community that models a costly obedience for all. * Michael Lastoria, professor emeritus, Houghton College, coauthor of Listening to Sexual Minorities *In a culture that views sexual activity as a right, the idea of choosing celibacy because another value, namely, one's faith, supersedes that right is unthinkable. Yet celibate gay Christians believe this is what God has called them to do, and they have chosen to obey--despite the cost. Yarhouse and Zaporozhets help us to better understand these Christians, the path they walk, and the sacrifices they make, all for spiritual gain. This willingness to enter into the submission and suffering of Christ for a deeper experience of grace stands in stark contrast to the cheap and easy faith for which too many of us settle. What a beautiful, and hard, testimony this costly obedience is to the church. * Janet B. Dean, associate professor of psychology, Asbury University *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Gay “Problem” When conservative Christians talk about homosexuality and people they know who are gay, they believe that the way to move forward is to have gay people become straight. They immediately think of “reorienting” gay people. But there is another reorientation that has to take place as well, one in which today’s church is reawakened to the call of costly obedience, one that is lived out by all followers of Christ. This means the church will also have to change, reorienting toward a different vision of community and discipleship. Gay Christians are being used by God today to reorient the church to this call. Part I: Reawakening the Church to Radical Discipleship Chapter 1: American Dream Christianity The church has adopted an “American Dream” Christianity, one that largely believes the answer to the “gay problem” is either transformation or celibacy---as if either of these options are easy! The casual attitude toward these difficult choices has alienated gay Christians and caused them to feel that the church is demanding of them things that are not required of other followers of Christ. We need to grasp that the call of discipleship is costly, and it is costly for all believes. Obedience to Christ places serious demands on the lives of every Christian, gay and straight alike. The crisis in the church today is not just homosexuality, it is recapturing a more biblical understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Chapter 2: The Shame Script - Change and Get Married! Most Christians wear their faith like an accessory as men and women seek personal fulfillment through falling in love, advancing in their careers, pursuing utmost pleasure, and investing in the relationships they find most gratifying. Self-centeredness permeates the western church, and it is largely ignored, even met with approval at times. The church’s solution to the gay problem is to promote marriage. Gays in the church feel that they are not full members until they have proven they have been healed by getting married. At the same time, the church condemns the gay person only to smile upon the straight person whose sexual sins are more socially acceptable. This hypocrisy alienates gay people and leads them to despair. Chapter 3: The Inclusive Script - Accept Who You Are Progressive churches subscribe to the gay script. This script says that a gay orientation necessitates having an active gay relationship based on a hermeneutic of love. These churches emphasize Christ’s condemnation of Pharisaical moral standards, those that affirm self-centered religiosity while marginalizing sexual minorities. Their acceptance of gay relationships is a reasonable extension of American Dream Christianity: if straight people can have their faith and pursue pleasure too, then gay people should as well. Progressive churches rightly realize Christ would condemn the hypocrisy rampant in most churches. But rather than calling all Christians up into sacrificial obedience, however, they appeal to inclusivity and invite gays to enjoy the fruit of American Dream Christianity. This is a compelling script for gay people because it meets legitimate needs for identity and community, and it will continue to be the most compelling script if the church does not change. Chapter 4: The Third Way Gay Christians feel forced to choose between two scripts imposed upon them: the gay affirming script and the local church’s shame script. When gay people feel unwelcomed because of attractions they did not choose and an orientation they are unlikely to change, they feel they have no choice but to depart from their convictions altogether, which is ultimately a departure from orthodoxy. As the culture war rises and both communities launch truth grenades from one side to the other, the casualties are the sexual minorities caught in the crossfire. To affirm casual Christianity for straight people and deny it to gay people is

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Book SynopsisHow should Christians approach important contemporary issues like war, race, creation care, gender, and politics?Christians in every culture are confronted with social trends and moral questions that can be difficult to navigate. But, the Bible often doesn''t speak directly to such issues. Even when it does, it can be confusing to know how best to apply the biblical teaching.In Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues authors Joshua D. Chatraw and Karen Swallow Prior first offer a broadly accessible framework for cultural engagement and then explore specific hot topics in current Western culture including: Sexuality Gender Roles Human Life and Reproduction Technology Immigration and Race Creation and Creature Care Politics Work Arts War, Weapons, and Capital Punishment Featuring contributions from over forty top thinkers, proponents of various viewTrade ReviewChristians talk a lot about cultural engagement, but our dismal record in recent decades suggests that our engagement strategies need a lot of work. In this provocative and timely book, Joshua Chatraw and Karen Swallow Prior have convened a wide-ranging cast of authors to debate the most pressing issues facing the church today. * Thomas S. Kidd, James Vardaman Distinguished Professor of History, Baylor University *Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues centers important conflicts, worldviews, and etiologies present in the contemporary church in America. As an instructor in intergroup dialogue and cultural diversity, I find this text to be a helpful resource for both Christian higher education professionals and a much broader audience who would benefit from its concise examination of diverse Christian thought manifested in social-political ideologies and practices. This book reminds us that even within the subset known as the American church there are various competing and impactful perspectives that call for deep understanding and not simple caricatures. * Christina Edmondson, dean of intercultural student development, Calvin College *In a time when US culture is incredibly fragmented, and the way forward seems to revolve around social media power dynamics, Cultural Engagement is a welcome and needed resource. By itself, part 1 offers a concise review of the literature on culture, its importance, and how it is formed. In part 2, Josh and Karen curate the best thinking on timely and critical contemporary issues--race, gender, work, arts, and challenges to life itself. It is this respectful pairing of differing viewpoints that is rare today, in both secular and Christian circles. Excellently done! * Katherine Leary Alsdorf, founder and director of Redeemer’s Center for Faith and Work *Josh Chatraw and Karen Swallow Prior, along with a host of friends, model for all of us what it means to think Christianly about the intersection of the gospel and culture, doing so with courage and conviction while encouraging careful listening, Christlike kindness, and civility. Cultural Engagement will form, inform, and motivate readers not only to engage thoughtfully but to live and serve faithfully. This compelling and comprehensive volume should become an essential resource for students, pastors, and thought leaders alike. Highly recommended! * David S. Dockery, president, Trinity International University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *Not only do we Christians lack ready-made answers to some of the pressing issues in our present day cultural life, but most of us are still trying to get clear about the questions. For this we need biblical discernment informed by cultural savvy. Thank the Lord, Karen Swallow Prior and Josh Chatraw have all of that in abundance! * Richard J. Mouw, president emeritus and professor of faith and public life, Fuller Theological Seminary *The Christian God never changes. But our culture constantly changes. Every year, every decade, and every century, Christians are faced with new challenges. Cultural Engagement gets us back onto the front foot. Instead of fight, fright, or flight, this book shows us how to face contemporary issues in our culture. It also equips us for the future challenges that are just around the corner. This book is a must-read for anyone who no longer wants to run from culture but to see each and every issue as an opportunity to engage culture with a Christian redemptive dialogue. * Sam Chan, City Bible Forum, Australia *This book is incredibly needed for 'such a time as this.' In this day and age, when rhetoric and worldviews are so divisive, and intelligence with grace and integrity is in short supply, Prior and Chatraw manage to bring together authors who nuance ancient biblical ideas with a wisdom that speaks to the ethical issues of our modern age. Pulling no punches in tackling all the toughest issues, this remarkable one-volume compendium is practically encyclopedic in its perspectives that exemplify goodness, truth, and beauty, while showing that Christians can also thoughtfully disagree on nonessential issues without losing unity in the essentials of the faith. * Allen Yeh, associate professor of intercultural studies and missiology, Biola University *This book will be extremely useful to any Christian seeking to answer cultural questions from a biblical point of view. I highly recommend it to every believer looking for a resource on cultural engagement that's also faithful to the Scriptures. * Phillip Holmes, vice president of institutional communications, Reformed Theological Seminary *Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Call to Cultural Engagement Part 1 - Charting a Course for Cultural Engagement 1. Defining Culture: How It Cultivates and Communicates 2. Understanding Christian Approaches to Cultural Engagement: Why the Categories Help and Hurt 3. The Centrality of the Gospel in Cultural Engagement 4. The Importance of Virtue and Skill in the Practice of Cultural Engagement Part 2 – Practicing Cultural Engagement 5. Engaging on Homosexuality Views - affirming, non-affirming (traditional and third-way) Contributor Pool - four or five of the following: Matthew Vines, Luke Timothy Johnson, Robert Gagnon, Albert Mohler, Denny Burk, Wesley Hill, Matthew Lee Anderson, Preston Sprinkle, Todd Wilson 6. Engaging on Gender Views - egalitarian, complementarian Contributor Pool - four of the following: Rachel Held Evans, Jen Wilkin, Courtney Reissig, Lynn Cohick, Michael Bird, Craig Blomberg, Ben Witherington, Jillian Ross, Andreas Kostenberger, Tom Schreiner 7. Engaging on War and Weapons Views - pacific, just war, anti-gun, pro-gun Contributor Pool - four of the following: Stanley Hauerwas, Ben Witherington, Preston Sprinkle, Russell Moore, Joseph Loconte, John Piper, Rob Schenk, Karen Swallow Prior 8. Engaging on Reproductive Technology Views - no abortion, abortion in difficult cases, pro-choice and pro-IVF, pro-life and pro-IVF Contributor Pool - four or five of the following: Francis Beckwith, John Stonestreet, Charles Camosy, Ellen Painter Dollar, Matt Appling 9. Engaging on Race Views - landscape, positive toward Black Lives Matter, negative toward Black Lives Matter Contributor Pool - four of the following: Trillia Newbell, Anthony Bradley, Voddie Baucham, D. A. Horton, Thabiti Anyabwile, Alan Noble 10. Engaging on Islam Views - same God, different God Contributor Pool - Miroslav Volf, Nabeel Qureshi 11. Engaging on Creation and Creature Care Views - landscape, pro-global warming, skeptical of global warming, animal welfare, meat eating Contributor Pool - five of the following: Steven Bouma-Prediger, Mark Liederbach, Kathryn Blanchard, Kevin J. O’Brien, Alexei Laushkin, Calvin Beisner, Christene Gutleben, Sarah King, Joel Salatin 12. Engaging on Politics Views - Kuyperian, Benedict Option, Paleo-Baptist, Religious Left, Religious Right Contributor Pool - five of the following: James K. A. Smith, Amy Black, Rod Dreher, Scot McKnight, Nathan Fin, Russell Moore, Bruce Ashford, Jim Wallis, Tony Perkins 13. Engaging on Work Views - Transformational, Two Kingdoms, pro women working, against women working Contributor Pool - four of the following: Timothy Keller, Greg Forster, Stephen Grail, Michael Horton, Greg Gilbert, Kevin DeYoung, Katelyn Beaty, Owen Strachan 14. Engaging on the Arts Views - Christian art, culture making, insufficient questions, avoiding sex and nudity, engaging sex and nudity Contributor Pool - five of the following: Philip Ryken, Nicholas Wolterstorff, Andy Crouch, Alissa Wilkinson, Tim Challies, Craig Detweiler Conclusion: A Realistic Hope

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Book SynopsisIn this four-session small group Bible study, Carl Medearis, an expert in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations, provides background info on Islam and tools for sharing Christ with their Muslim neighbors.

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Book Synopsis"Probably the best book ever written about polygamy. Neither an apologia nor an exposé."—Salt Lake City TribuneTrade Review"Her harrowing family history and bracingly vivid, frequently poetic memoir is a document of consistent fascination and intermittently astonishing power." -- Elle"A wise and moving memoir that should be read by anyone interested in how we configure our relationships." -- Judith Freeman"Bold and strongly imagined...takes us deep to the heart of a family story that is both strange and familiar." -- Kim Barnes"[An] amazing story." -- Pam Houston"I have never read a memoir that moved me so deeply." -- Teresa Jordan"Written with courage, compassion, and an uncommon wisdom.... This book is a reckoning with truth." -- Terry Tempest Williams

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Book SynopsisPublished to coincide with Pope Francis's Year of Mercy and the Vatican's canonization of Mother Teresa, this new book of unpublished material by a humble yet remarkable woman of faith whose influence is felt as deeply today as it was when she was alive, offers Mother Teresa’s profound yet accessible wisdom on how we can show mercy and compassion in our day-to-day lives.   For millions of people from all walks of life, Mother Teresa's canonization is providentially taking place during Pope Francis's Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. This is entirely fitting since she is seen both inside and outside of the Church as an icon of God's mercy to those in need.   Compiled and edited by Brian Kolodiejckuk, M.C., the postulator of Mother Teresa’s cause for sainthood, A Call to Mercy presents deep yet accessible wisdom on how we can show compassion in our everyday lives. In her own words, Mother Teresa discusses such topics as:  &

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Book SynopsisThe unforgettable true story of one man’s escape from the school-to-prison pipeline, how he reinvented himself as a pastor and education reform advocate, and what his journey can teach us about turning the collateral damage in the lives of our youth into hope.“A heart-wrenching and triumphant story that will change lives.”—Bishop T. D. JakesMichael Phillips would never become anything. At least, that’s what he was told. It seemed like everyone was waiting for him to just fall through the cracks. After losing his father, suffering a life-altering car accident, and losing his college scholarship, Michael turned to selling drugs to make ends meet. But when his house was raided, he was arrested and thrown into a living nightmare.When it looked like he would be sentenced to spend years behind bars, the judge gave him a choice—go to a special college program for adjudicated youth or face the possibility of a thirty-year prison sentence. It wasn’t hard to pick. From that choice, a mission was born—to help change the system that shuffles so many young Black men like Michael straight from school to prison. Today, Michael is the pastor of a thriving church, a local leader in Baltimore, and a member of the Maryland State Board of Education. He discovered that education was the path to becoming who he was created to be. Armed with research, statistics, and his powerful story, Michael tackles the embedded privilege of the education system and introduces ideas for change that could level the playing field and reduce negative impacts on vulnerable youth. He explores ways in which the readers can help advocate and provide resources for students, and points us to the one thing anyone can start doing, no matter who we are or what our role is: speak into young kids’ lives. Tell them of their inherent worth and purpose. In this inspiring, thought-provoking, and energizing call to action, Michael’s practical steps provide a way forward to anyone wanting to help create space for collateral hope in the lives of for young people around them.

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Book SynopsisAn unforgettable invitation to treat our lives as the sacred things they are—and a call to embrace the love, dreams, and healing that only we can choose for ourselves.   “A must-read for all Black women . . . Remember Me Now is more than words on paper. It’s a journey back to ourselves.”—Toni Collier, speaker, podcast host, and author of Brave Enough to Be BrokenWhen Breonna Taylor was killed, her police report was virtually blank. Feeling as if she was suffocating in the initial silence and lack of public outcry, anti-racism educator and activist Faitth Brooks wondered, “Would the world care about and remember me if I was killed?” In Remember Me Now, Faitth grapples with the answer, charting the story of her activist grandparents and ancestors, as well as chronicling her own journey as the first-generation suburbs kid who becomes an activist and organizer herself. Part manifesto, part love letter to Black women, Remember Me Now shows us how we learn to celebrate the fullness of ourselves—a holy, defiant, and necessary move in a world determined to silence us. Filled with transporting stories, poems, and letters to sisters of all walks of life, Remember Me Now is a transformational read that calls Black women to be their own activists. It''s a reminder to all that Black women matter, and our lives, voices, and stories are worth everything.

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Book SynopsisIdentify the issues that matter most to you, create a plan of action, and make the impact God wants you to make—locally, nationally, and globally—with this undated, guided twelve-month planner.All too often, the news is filled with heart-wrenching stories of poverty, injustice, inequality, fear, prejudice, divisions, and more. You may want to help fix the brokenness and change the world, but may not know where to start. In Be the Difference Planner, you will find the motivational strategies and organizational tools to identify the issues that matter most to you. Then, using the planner’s practical guides and insightful reflections, you can map out intentional steps to create a meaningful impact, both at home and on a global scale.Special features and tools that will instruct and enable you to be the difference include: overviews of several current issues that have always been on God''s heart and should be

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Book SynopsisA stirring meditation of being Black and learning to love in a loveless, anti-Black world“Only once in a lifetime do we come across a writer like Danté Stewart, so young and yet so masterful with the pen. This work is a thing to make dungeons shake and hearts thunder.”—Robert Jones, Jr., New York Times bestselling author of The ProphetsIn Shoutin’ in the Fire, Danté Stewart gives breathtaking language to his reckoning with the legacy of white supremacy—both the kind that hangs over our country and the kind that is internalized on a molecular level. Stewart uses his personal experiences as a vehicle to reclaim and reimagine spiritual virtues like rage, resilience, and remembrance—and explores how these virtues might function as a work of love against an unjust, unloving world.In 2016, Stewart was a rising leader at the predominantly white evangelical church he and his family were attending in Augusta, Georgia. Like many young church leaders, Stewart was thrilled at the prospect of growing his voice and influence within the community, and he was excited to break barriers as the church’s first Black preacher. But when Donald Trump began his campaign, so began the unearthing. Stewart started overhearing talk in the pews—comments ranging from microaggressions to outright hostility toward Black Americans. As this violence began to reveal itself en masse, Stewart quickly found himself isolated amid a people unraveled; this community of faith became the place where he and his family now found themselves most alone. This set Stewart on a journey—first out of the white church and then into a liberating pursuit of faith—by looking to the wisdom of the saints that have come before, including James H. Cone, James Baldwin, and Toni Morrison, and by heeding the paradoxical humility of Jesus himself.This sharply observed journey is an intimate meditation on coming of age in a time of terror. Stewart reveals the profound faith he discovered even after experiencing the violence of the American church: a faith that loves Blackness; speaks truth to pain and trauma; and pursues a truer, realer kind of love than the kind we’re taught, a love that sets us free.

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Book SynopsisA powerful call for Christians to understand sex as a window into God''s story of redemption, and a validating guide to living with authentic love in a changing culture?from the influential pastor and author of The Skeletons in God?s Closet.Beautiful isn?t likely the first word that comes to mind when we think about sex.Our reactions are as varied as our experiences and backgrounds. Perhaps the word brings up past baggage. Perhaps it holds yearning for a dream that has never come true. Maybe we would rather not talk about it. Maybe it?s all we want to talk about. Around us, our culture is divided by this topic. On one side, ?progressive? voices seek to dismantle historic Christian teachings to fit current norms. On the other side, ?conservative? voices can reinforce messages of shame, judgement, and repression.Beautiful Union offers a third way, one that is both true and beautiful. It gives us a provocative, positive look into the deepest Christian understanding of sex . . . and what sex reveals about God, our world, and even ourselves. Through biblical teaching and livable, joyful answers to our tough questions about sexuality, author and pastor Joshua Ryan Butler shows how sex illuminates the structure of creation, the nature of salvation, the abundance of God?s kingdom, and God?s heartbeat for the world.Discover afresh the beautiful invitation of our sexuality . . . as God intended it to be.

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Book SynopsisA practical, illuminating companion guide to Beautiful Union, Joshua Ryan Butler?s positive exploration of how God?s design for sexreveals the good, true, and beautiful in Scripture . . . and all of life.Designed as a companion to that life-changing book, this dynamic study guide is your road map for diving more deeply into the key concepts of Beautiful Union?whether by yourself or with a group.Through seven fast-paced sessions, you?ll encounter thought-provoking questions, be prompted to reflect on powerful concepts, discover what God?s design for sex was always meant to reveal, and consider what it all means for living a joyful, faithful life. These sessions include features such as:? Unpack It: questions to illuminate Beautiful Union with space to record your reflections? Use Your Imagination: exercises to creatively help you see God?s larger invitation for human flourishing? Reflect on It: ways to understand our lives in the expansive story of God that sex points toWith this guide, you?ll experience a bigger, more beautiful vision of God, the gospel, and the Christian vision for sex.

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Book SynopsisNo one is born courageous, but everyone hopes courage will come. Here''s how to stand strong. Like many other people of faith, you may be concerned about what the future holds for Christians in America. Every day we wake up in a nation and world that is increasingly hostile to our beliefs and values. Even the basic freedoms that define America--speech and religion--are under attack. The result is that many of us have become fearful, apathetic and detached. The great need of the day is a sweeping revolution of courage in our lives, families and houses of worship. A Call for Courage will spark that revolution in you.Michael Anthony understands how fear can paralyze us, and in this revolutionary new book he shows Christians how to stand up and speak out, mobilizing them to walk by faith, not fear. Drawing from Scripture and deep personal experience, he proves that anyone can learn the secret to putting fear in its place and becoming more co

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Book SynopsisIn this updated edition of A Strong Delusion, author and counselor Joe Dallas helps readers understand what pro-gay theology is and how to confront it with a balance between conviction and compassion.Trade Review"More than ever, Christians are challenged to articulate and defend the Bible's position on homosexuality. In The Gay Gospel? Joe Dallas—one of Christianity's most able and articulate spokesmen on human sexuality—codifies the arguments and arms us with clear, concise, and convincing answers. This resource is both compelling and compassionate." —Hank Hanegraaff, President of the Christian Research Institute and host of The Bible Answer Man"The Gay Gospel? is a must read for all who sincerely seek the cleanest explanation yet for the Christian attitude toward homosexuality. I pray that this work will have the impact on all segments of our society that it deserves." —D. James Kennedy, Ph.D., Coral Ridge Ministries"To be caught in the trap of homosexuality is difficult enough, but to be held captive in a strong delusion of a false gospel requires the strong arm of truth. Writing the truth in love, Joe Dallas reveals how to set the captives free." —Janet Parshall, nationally syndicated radio host"A powerful resource for those combating pro-gay theology, whether in their family, church or denomination. A former insider, Dallas used to ardently defend the same arguments he now skillfully demolishes." —Bob Davies, former Executive Director, Exodus International—North America"Joe Dallas' new book, The Gay Gospel?, is a must read for anyone seeking truth regarding pro-gay theology and reaching those bound by same-gender attraction. Once again, Joe has thoroughly and clearly presented biblical truths while offering practical steps and tools to be more effective in evangelizing the gay community. Ultimately, the content of Joe's book cements the fact that the entire issue of homosexuality is really about the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture." —Pastor Phillip Lee, Executive Director, His Way Out Ministries"As a pastor of a church in the heart of the gay and lesbian community of San Diego, I am very pleased to recommend Joe Dallas' book, The Gay Gospel? Joe does an excellent job of helping us understand what happens when two of our most basic drives are in conflict: the desire for an intimate relationship with God and the desire for an intimate relationship with another. It is necessary to understand not only the way Scripture is adjusted to meet the demand of a biased viewpoint but it is also necessary to understand the motivation behind doing so. Joe helps us come to a compassionate understanding while still holding firm to the Gospel. If you want to engage the people in your congregation who are struggling to balance their spiritual desires with their sexual drives, this book is a must read. If you want to understand the process by which one comes to embrace error in order to accommodate desire, you need to read this book." —Rev. Jack M. Sampier, Senior Pastor of the Calvary Temple Assembly of God

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Book Synopsis"There's something I need to tell you...I'm gay."These are hard words to hear from a beloved family member. From his many years of helping families answer tough questions about homosexuality, Joe Dallas offers you sound, compassionate, and biblically accurate advice as you take a journey you never anticipated.

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Book SynopsisTwo pastors offer compassionate, biblical answers about homosexuality and practical, real world advice on how to think and talk about this controversial issue with loved ones.

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Book SynopsisHow can the church be a healing force in the world? In this longtime bestseller, now revised and updated, authors Jerry Cook and Stanley C. Baldwin suggest that it is only when believers admit their own brokenness that they can love, accept, and forgive those who are hurting around them and put out the welcome mat to their community. They offer clear teaching about the church in a hurting world. As veteran leaders who practice these principles, they speak from experience, not theory. Through touching true stories and practical guidelines for connecting with fallen, sinful people, Cook and Baldwin announce the good news. The church is not broken, and it is the broken people who can change the world.

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Book SynopsisOnly by engaging the Scriptures deeply, thinking clearly, and speaking truthfully can we in God's family address our differences and discover the peace that comes with unity of purpose.

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Book SynopsisYour church may have many members, but does every member have a purpose? In Doing Church as a Team, Pastor Wayne Cordeiro shows you how to identify the hidden callings of the members in your church so that together you can accomplish anything God has called you to do. 

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Book SynopsisDo you believe in miracles? Tani Adewumi does. An eight-year-old refugee from Nigeria, Tani shocked the ultra-exclusive chess club community when he won the New York State Chess Championship after only playing the game for a year. But what no one realized is that his story was already full of miracles.

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Book SynopsisJesus' goals of togetherness, oneness, and unity feel further off than ever before. Sparks of opinion have fueled the flame of prejudice, profiling, and hate. Although these seem to be the major problems, Pastor Jimmy Rollins believes they are merely symptoms of hearts that are separated from God.

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Book SynopsisCovering topics such as right and wrong, sex, homosexuality, abortion, politics, and the environment, Culture Shock is every engaged believer's must-have guidebook to replacing reactionary hate with revolutionary love.

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Book SynopsisThe church finds itself in a period of great diversification and multiple expressions. In the midst of great change, we have become confused about what really makes for healthy and authentic pastoral leadership. What are the basic and common characteristics necessary for pastors to be effective? How can lay people understand the pastoral call more fully and partner better with pastors for the health of their church? Here Mannoia and Walkemeyer examine the foundations of pastoral effectiveness and bring together nine experienced pastoral leaders to discuss the basic characteristics that exist in effective pastors. Regardless of context or personality, ineffectiveness in pastors and subsequent ill health in churches is often not the result of a lack of calling, but instead is the result of misappropriated efforts to find success. Let''s help those who are called to be good stewards of their call. And let''s help churches have a chance to be healthy under the leadership of effective pasto

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Book SynopsisHuman trafficking expert Nita Belles combines heart-wrenching stories, startling research, and boots-on-the-ground advice into a powerful, fast-paced primer on the devastating reality of modern-day slavery and what we can do to stop it.

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Book SynopsisA world renowned theologian shows Christians what faithful political discipleship looks like under the realities of our global, post-everything world.

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Book SynopsisA political scientist and pastor offers a positive, holistic vision that helps readers engage the cultural debate on sex and marriage in personal ethics and public policy.

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Book SynopsisInner-city pastor Wayne Gordon and Civil Rights legend John M. Perkins help readers understand our current racial crisis, offering them practical, real-world strategies so they can be part of the solution.

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Book SynopsisA pastor, an urban social activist, and an economics professor and bestselling author invite God's people to experience the joy of following Jesus more fully in how we spend, save, and give.

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Book SynopsisAward-winning author George Barna helps church leaders uncover God's vision for their ministry so they know where they're headed and can minister authentically and authoritatively.

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Book SynopsisSome churches grow rapidly, only to hit a ceiling. Other churches have experienced declining or static attendance--many of them for decades. Frustrated pastors and church leaders want growth methods that work, but without adding to pastoral fatigue.How to Break Growth Barriers argues that growth comes when effective leadership and lay-empowerment skills work hand in hand. This requires a shift of focus from the shepherd as the primary caregiver to shepherd as developer and coach of many caregivers. The authors show pastors how to communicate a vision for the future and then how to lead the congregation into the paradigms necessary for potentially limitless growth.The strategies found in this book are not only tried and true, and taken from a biblical perspective of a 'harvest' vision. They''re also newly updated to reflect our changing culture, including helpful charts and checklists for self-evaluation.

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Book SynopsisThis book approaches preaching as a theological practice and a spiritual discipline in a way that is engaging, straightforward, and highly usable for busy preachers. Bringing to bear almost three decades of practical experience in the pulpit and the classroom, Annette Brownlee explores six questions to help preachers listen to Scripture, move from text to interpretation for weekly sermon preparation, and understand the theological significance of the sermon. Each chapter explains one of the Six Questions of Sermon Preparation, provides numerous examples and illustrations, and contains theological reflections. The final chapter includes sample sermons, which put the Six Question method into practice.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: Listening to Scripture for Preaching: A Discipline in Need of Remediation1. Question One: "What Do I See?" The Preacher as Witness2. Question Two: "Whom Do I See?" The Preacher as Witness to Christ3. Question Three: "What Is Christ's Word to Me?" The Preacher as Confessor4. Question Four: "What Is Christ's Word to Us?" The Preacher as Theologian5. Question Five: "What Is Christ's Word about Us?" The Preacher as Theologian of a Broken Body6. Question Six: "What Does It Look Like?" The Preacher as Witness to Christ in a Disobedient World7. Using the Six Questions: Sermon Form and Sermon ExamplesConclusion: Love as the Hermeneutical CriterionIndex

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Book SynopsisBuilding on Haddon Robinson''s philosophical approach to preaching, this book brings together accomplished evangelical preachers and teachers to help students and pastors understand the worlds--biblical, cultural, and personal--that influence and impact their preaching. The contributors explore the various inner and outer worlds in which a preacher functions with the goal of helping preachers sharpen their craft. Foreword by Bryan Chapell.Table of ContentsContentsForeword by Bryan ChapellIntroduction: A Tribute to Haddon Robinson Scott M. Gibson1. The Worlds of the Preacher Haddon W. Robinson2. The Preacher and the World of the Old Testament Steven D. Mathewson3. The Preacher and the World of the New Testament Duane Litfin4. The Preacher's Personal World Scott M. Gibson5. The World of Ethnic and Cultural Issues in Preaching Matthew D. Kim6. The Worlds of the Listener Jeffrey Arthurs7. Preaching in This Present World Patricia M. Batten8. The Mission of Preaching in This World Victor D. Anderson9. The World of History and the Task of Preaching Scott Wenig10. Preaching to a Culture Dominated by Images Donald R. SunukjianAfterword: The Worlds of the Preacher Scott M. Gibson

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Book SynopsisEhler's sophisticated yet accessible study of the pluralist diocese of Valencia is a valuable contribution to the study of Catholic reform, moriscos, Christian-Muslim relations in early modern Spain, and early modern Europe.Trade ReviewWell researched and clearly presented. -- Hilaire Kallendorf American Historical Review 2007 Excellent study. -- James B. Tueller Renaissance Quarterly 2007 Engagingly studies the conflicts in Valencia between local elites and the viceroy and the archbishop, agents of central government. -- Carmen Peraita Year's Work in Modern Language Studies 2008 Between Christians and Moriscos is a carefully researched and highly readable work that shows with impartiality the complexity of Ribera, whose arguments were much used in the theological justification of the expulsion of the Moriscos. -- Grace Magnier Bulletin of Spanish Studies 2008 Between Christians and Moriscos is a fine and welcome contribution to the history of early modern Spain. -- Mary Halavais Journal of Modern History 2008 The book's greatest strength lies... in the highly original and well-crafted insight it provides. -- David Coleman European History Quarterly 2009 Surely, this book is destined to become required reading for all who are interested in early modern history and especially for those who have a special interest in Spain and Catholicism or in the history of Christian-Muslim relations. -- Carlos M. N. Eire Church History 2008 A well-documented, measured, subtle, and dispassionate look at the evolution of one of Spain's longest-tenured and powerful churchmen. -- William A. Christian Jr. Sixteenth Century Journal 2008Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsPrologue: The Formation of a Tridentine Bishop1. Two Flocks, One Shepherd: Christians and Muslims in Valencia2. The Limits of Episcopal Authority: The Pasquinades of 1570–15713. Reform by Other Means: The Colegio de Corpus Christi4. From Moriscos to Moros: Ribera and the Baptized Muslims of Valencia5. Disillusionment and Its Consequences: Ribera, Philip II, and the Valencian Moriscos6. Justifying the Expulsion: Ribera and Philip IIIConclusion: The Ideal Bishop and the End of Spanish IslamNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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