The Christian Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics mean to you. Each 8-week study is based on articles written by some of today's leading Christian authors and published by the Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies will foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group. Faith & Work will take on a variety of topics, such as: Work-Drudgery or Delight? Ambition and Achievement A Witness at the Workplace Work & Sabbath Rest Based on articles by a variety of authors, such as: Chuck Colson Christine Gardner Marshall Shelley
The Christian Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics mean to you. Each 8-week study is based on articles written by some of today's leading Christian authors and published by the Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies will foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group. Engaging the Culture will take on a variety of topics, such as: Culture . . . Love It? Leave It? Or Transform It? Kingdom-Minded Living in the Kingdom of This World Engaging the Skeptics Cultural Stereotypes and Misconceptions of Christianity Based on articles by a variety of authors, such as: Philip Yancey Mark Galli Michael Horton
The Christian Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics mean to you. Each 8-week study is based on articles written by some of today's leading Christian authors and published by the Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies will foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group. Politics & Government will take on a variety of topics, such as: Christians and Political Involvement Is America a Judeo-Christian Country? Separation of Church & State Relying on Government or God? Based on articles by a variety of authors, such as: Andy Crouch Leith Anderson Tony Campolo
The Christianity Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics mean to readers. Each eight-week study is based on articles written by today's leading Christian authors and published by Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group Good Entertainment takes on a variety of topics, including: The intersection of Christian faith and pop culture entertainment (for example, literature, movies/TV, and music) How God can speak to us through the arts, even though it seems much of today's media messages are largely amoral How Christians should deal with and discern between entertainment that is meaningful and appropriate and entertainment that is destructive and should be avoided
The Christianity Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics mean to readers. Each eight-week study is based on articles written by today's leading Christian authors and published by Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group. The Bible: Irrelevant or Invaluable? is scheduled to coincide with the release of the film sequel to The DaVinci Code and takes on the hot topics of the authority, origin, and infallibility of the Bible.
Fifty years of evangelical thought on creation care Evangelicals have a complex relationship with environmentalism. Some lament the church's apparent disinterest in humanity's negative impact upon the earth. Others denounce environmentalism as a distraction from the church's mission. In the face of polarization over the issue, how should evangelicals steward creation well? Stewards of the Earth collects five decades of articles from Christianity Today that display the diversity and development of evangelical perspectives on creation care. Some articles address the concerns evangelicals have over cooperating with the broader environmentalist movement or lay out positive ways to navigate or overcome these hesitations. Other articles present constructive approaches to creation care. Readers will gain a nuanced view of evangelical thought over the decades. With a new introduction by Loren Wilkinson and contributions from writers like Bill McKibben, Ronald Sider, Leslie Leyland Fields, and Andy Crouch, these essays preserve the wisdom of the past to provide insight for the future.
Each eight-week study is based on articles written by today's leading Christian authors and published by Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group.
Reflections on the wonder of Christmas by Christianity's most beloved writers. A Light Has Dawned recovers the best Advent and Christmas articles from half a century of Christianity Today. Guiding the reader through Advent, Christmas, and the climax of Epiphany and including contributions by Billy Graham, Tim Keller, Elisabeth Elliot, Ruth Bell Graham, Eugene Peterson, and more. A Light Has Dawned will inspire readers with the wonder of Advent and Christmas.
The Christian Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics mean to you. Each 8-week study is based on articles written by some of today's leading Christian authors and published by the Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies will foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group. Politics & Government will take on a variety of topics, such as: Christians and Political Involvement Is America a Judeo-Christian Country? Separation of Church & State Relying on Government or God? Based on articles by a variety of authors, such as: Andy Crouch Leith Anderson Tony Campolo
If laughter is the best medicine then these hysterical reflections on church life will bring joy and encouragement. Funny things happen in church...really funny things. And laughing about them can be one of the most healing, healthy, and encouraging things a pastor, church leader, or church member can do. This fun resource will provide instant laughs by bringing together some of the best “Church Laughs” content from Leadership Journal, Christianity Today’s magazine for church leaders. High-quality, witty, silly, and just-plain funny cartoons and amusing anecdotes are also included. Let My People Laugh will bless and minister to folks in a way that sermons sometime can’t!
Reflections on the wonder of EasterSuffering & Glory recovers some of the best Holy Week and Easter articles from half a century of Christianity Today. Guiding readers from Palm Sunday to Pentecost and including contributions from Tish Harrison Warren, J. I. Packer, Nancy Guthrie, and Eugene Peterson, Suffering & Glory will remind readers of the beauty of Christ's death and resurrection.
The Christian Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics mean to you. Each 8-week study is based on articles written by some of today's leading Christian authors and published by the Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies will foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group. Engaging the Culture will take on a variety of topics, such as: Culture . . . Love It? Leave It? Or Transform It? Kingdom-Minded Living in the Kingdom of This World Engaging the Skeptics Cultural Stereotypes and Misconceptions of Christianity Based on articles by a variety of authors, such as: Philip Yancey Mark Galli Michael Horton
Jesus Christ: In Whom the Deity and the fullness of God is revealed in Person, Body, and Essence. The Word became Flesh and dwelt among men. The vibrant, glowing descriptions of Jesus' Deity, life, and ministry among the human race have endeared this gospel to hearts of Christians for centuries. Indeed, it is the gospel that is generally recommended as the new convert's first assignment. Within its pages are unparalleled revelations of an eternal God Who entered human history in the person of Jesus Christ to reconcile the world of lost humanity to fellowship with him. Nowhere else in the New Testament is the Good News made so simple and clear.
The Gospel of Mark was written about A.D. 57–59 by a Jewish disciple of the Christian faith, the same “John Mark” mentioned at least ten times in the New Testament. John was his Hebrew name, and Mark was his Gentile name.1 All of the early church fathers ascribe this gospel to a young man who was not one of the twelve apostles but was a disciple of Paul and later of Peter. He is often referred to as the interpreter of Peter’s teaching, and Peter apparently gave Mark his stamp of approval for the use of these teachings among the early churches.2
Life is full of lessons learned, and the earlier we learn them, the more fulfilling the remainder of our lives can be. The Christian life has a unique set of lessons. All of us face the daily challenges of discerning God's will and reconciling the ultimate source of truth and guidance""the Bible""with the influences and pressures of secular society. These challenges can be daunting, and the pathway to success can be tortuous and full of obstacles. In his well-articulated and entertaining take on some important lessons of the Christian life, author and songwriter Robert D. Smith, Jr. provides thought-provoking insights for those engaged in all phases of the faith journey""from nonbelief to Christian maturity. He shares these life lessons by calling upon decades of experience in navigating the Christian walk and making decisions along the way, not all of them the best ones. He intersperses relevant lyrics from his thirty years of contemporary Christian songwriting into the text as a poetic complement to the narrative. His goal is for readers to learn the lessons it has taken him a lifetime to learn early enough in their lives to make a difference. Whether you are a skeptic, questioning the relevance of the Bible or even the existence of God; a new Christian seeking direction for your life; or a mature believer with years of devotion and service behind you; there is wisdom to be gained from reading this book. As long as we continue to breathe, there is always room to learn and grow. No matter how old you are or where you faith resides, these ten lessons will bring clarity to your path forward.
In Honest Patriots, renowned public theologian and ethicist Donald W. Shriver, Jr. argues that we must acknowledge and repent of the morally negative events in our nation's past. The failure to do so skews the relations of many Americans to one another, breeds ongoing hostility, and damages the health of our society. Yet our civic identity today largely rests on denials, forgetfulness, and inattention to the memories of neighbors whose ancestors suffered great injustices at the hands of some dominant majority. Shriver contends that repentance for these injustices must find a place in our political culture. Such repentance must be carefully and deliberately cultivated through the accurate teaching of history, by means of public symbols that embody both positive and negative memory, and through public leadership to this end. Religious people and religious organizations have an important role to play in this process. Historically, the Christian tradition has concentrated on the personal dimensions of forgiveness and repentance to the near-total neglect of their collective aspects. Recently, however, the idea of collective moral responsibility has gained new and public visibility. Official apologies for past collective injustice have multiplied, along with calls for reparations. Shriver looks in detail at the examples of Germany and South Africa, and their pioneering efforts to foster and express collective repentance. He then turns to the historic wrongs perpetrated against African Americans and Native Americans and to recent efforts by American citizens and governmental bodies to seek public justice by remembering public injustice. The call for collective repentance presents many challenges: What can it mean to morally master a past whose victims are dead and whose sufferings cannot be alleviated? What are the measures that lend substance to language and action expressing repentance? What symbolic and tangible acts produce credible turns away from past wrongs? What are the dynamics-psychological, social, and political-whereby we can safely consign an evil to the past? How can public life witness to corporate crimes of the past in such a way that descendents of victims can be confident that they will never be repeated? In his provocative answers to these questions Shriver creates a compelling new vision of the collective repentance and apology that must precede real progress in relations between the races in this country.
The Book of Revelation rings with familiar imagery and verses, but what does it tell us about the last days? Despite the countless interpretations available, it often seems as though understanding the last days has never been more difficult. Now, through this easy-to-read devotional commentary, Revelation will come alive as you venture into the powerful and dynamic message of this prophecy and diligently study the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit at work The Gospel is spreading In this powerful narrative, Luke records specific historical events marking the crucial moments of transition from Jesus’ physical departure from earth (ascension) to the coming of the Holy Spirit to earth, focusing on the commission of the apostles and the beginning of the ministry of the Church of Jesus Christ in spreading the Gospel beyond Jerusalem to the ends of the world. Luke outlines an investigative historical narrative, detailing the works of the Holy Spirit through the apostles – primarily Peter, Stephen, and Paul. Although Luke’s narrative was addressed to an individual Acts 1:1, it is equally relevant to the Church of Jesus Christ across the ages. This verse-by-verse devotional study, complete with engaging commentary and practical life applications, will renew your appreciation of the grace of God in your own life and challenge you to pursue a closer walk with Christ. As you embark on this journey, surrender yourself to the living Word of God to inspire you to share the fundamental message of the gospel with others: we are reconciled to the Father not by our works, but only by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This extensive Devotional Commentary candidly addresses various controversial issues and offers challenging devotional thoughts and precepts, assuring the redeemed and warning the unsaved about the unchanging Truth of God's Holy Word. May we heed the words of Christ and open our ears to "hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Leader's Guide for Soul - the youth edition of Christianity Explored “Soul” is a life-changing journey through the Gospel of Mark. In seven interactive sessions, plus a weekend or day away, teenagers will find out what Christians believe, discover the Bible’s answers to the big questions of life and explore what Christianity is really all about. This Leader's Guide provides all the information you need on how to run the course, introductory activity ideas, Bible-study questions with guide answers and lots more! “Soul” is the name for the 14+ part of the original CY course, the youth edition of Christianity Explored.
Contending For The Faith A powerful and inspired letter written to all who are redeemed, set apart, preserved, an called, blessing them with the love and peace of God and exhorting them to contend for the faith given to them by God in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, Redemption Accomplished The book of Hebrews is a sacred proclamation of the supremacy of Jesus Christ. Being the Son of God with the Name above all names, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Law, the prophets, and the Psalms. Having spoken through the Prophets of the Old Testament, God finally spoke through His Son Jesus Christ both as the Completer of God's plan of redemption and the fulfillment of the same as the perfect Sacrifice, satisfying the Law. The book of Hebrews assures us that Jesus Christ is our High Priest Who took His own holy and sinless Blood into the heavenly sanctuary, offering it to God as the eternal atonement for the redemption of the lost. In sum, The author of Hebrews is essentially telling his readers and Christians across the ages: Do not abandon your hope in Jesus. Keep your eye fixed on Him Who is your salvation. Never forget that Jesus is your High Priest. He has entered the presence of the Father in heaven and intercedes for you. He is your sure foundation in a world that is otherwise passing away. He will lead you safely home where you will dwell in His presence forevermore!
Reflecting the Love of God a collection of three powerful and inspired letters to all Christians concerning the certainty of God's salvation, exhorting believers to grow in godly life reflecting His Love and understanding His truth.
Genesis: the book of beginnings. The book of Genesis is not only the first book of the Bible detailing the beginnings of Creation and life as we know it, but also serves as the over-arching and pervasive sacred reference for the true understanding of the entire Bible as intended by the Author, God, the Spirit of Truth. Genesis in its entirety, and the first eleven chapters in particular are indispensable for a meaningful understanding of God's living Word. Genesis chapter one is the majestic and glorious opening of the Bible. Armed with a real understanding of God's revealed identity, His awesome Power, and the nature of His Purpose outlined in Genesis chapters one through eleven, the student of the Bible can confidently follow the Biblical narrative as the account of God's relationship to man unfolds through the records of time and history chronicled in the pages of the Holy Bible. The Prophets, the Psalmist, the Poets, the Evangelists, and the Apostles were inspired to expound what is revealed in Genesis chapters one through eleven. Flowing out of Genesis, the Biblical narrative tells the account of creation, rebellion, and redemption in the context of God's Holiness, Righteousness, Justice, and Glory. We believe that it is absolutely necessary that the believer must meditate upon the first eleven chapters of Genesis in order to be open and well prepared to learn the Truth about God's Will, Purpose, and Plan concerning creation in general and man in particular.
Correcting the Church In his first epistle to the Corinthian Church the apostle Paul confronted the immorality, doctrinal confusion and frequent disputes that had become commonplace among the Corinthian believers. Paul's message to this church was simple yet powerful: Consider the values of Christ's redemption and realign your thinking with God's instructions. Although this letter was written to correct, admonish, instruct, and encourage the early church, they are just as relevant to us today. This verse-by-verse devotional study, complete with engaging commentary and practical life applications, will challenge you to pursue a closer walk with Jesus Christ and grow in the faith.
In God I trust The prophet Daniel was a man both tested and exalted. His commitment to the Lord God Almighty never fluctuated. He relied upon God for both life-saving miracles and the smallest of provisions. In this intriguing book, we will examine this one man’s unwavering faith in his God, beginning from the time that he arrived in Babylon as a young Jew and continuing throughout his years of service under the authority of several kings and kingdoms. There is perhaps no better example of godly faith, dependency, trust, and worship than in the character of the prophet Daniel. He was faithful to God and commendable before men. "This chapter by chapter and verse-by-verse exegesis of the wonderful prophetic work of Daniel—in itself one of the most readable books of the Bible—is a triumph. This major collaborative undertaking provides a format for devotional study that challenges any other work of its kind. For any reader with a thirst for irrefutable Bible knowledge, this scholarly but practical approach to the study of Daniel is enthusiastically recommended." The Late Dr. James Kennedy, Ph.D Senior Minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
Often intimidating, and especially open to broad interpretation, the book of Revelation has been the source of controversy for hundreds of years. Now, through this easy-to-ready devotional commentary, Revelation will come alive as you read and study scholarly interpretations and compare the strengths and weaknesses of the theories presented. Readers can form their own opinions about the most studied yet least understood book of the Bible. With its graphic imagery, forthcoming predictions and profound significance, Revelation gives readers a simple interpretation on how the promises--judgment for the wicked, hope for the righteous, and blessing for all "who keep the words of the prophecy of this book"--will come to pass.
Jesus Christ is a light that will reveal salvation to the nations... So wrote Luke, the only Gentile writer found in the New Testament Scriptures. Luke saw in Jesus Christ the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy: "Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." In clearly described themes, Luke takes his readers on a journey of discovery, finding in Jesus Christ, not only the light for Israel, but for people of all nations of the world. "The book you hold in your hands is no dry seminary text, nor is it a feel-good self-help devotional. There is a wealth of information here, presented in a clear and accessible writing style that makes this commentary a great read for new believers and seasoned theologians alike. Luke's Gospel is examined not in a vaccuum, but in the context of the totality of Scripture where frequent references to supporting verses serve as roadsigns, assuring the reader that he is on the right road. This commentary informs and delights!
Hope of the nations The book of Romans is a masterpiece of Christian doctrine through which the apostle Paul explores many fundamentals of the Christian faith. In this letter, Paul, the servant of Jesus Christ, affirms the reality of humanity’s fallen condition and God’s divine provision for redemption. Through this letter originally addressed to the believers in ancient Rome, we today can peer into the clouded mirror of divine grace and glimpse the plan of redemption as sovereignly designed by the Master Potter through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul addresses specific concerns of the early church, focusing on the themes of salvation by grace, redemption, transformation in Christ and perseverance in the face of persecution.
The gospel of Matthew, chronicled by one who personally journeyed with Jesus during His earthly ministry, is a unique account since it is generally agreed that it was written with a Jewish audience in mind. As such, great care is taken in providing detail that substantiates Jesus as the Christ, the promised Messiah. No other gospel focuses so strongly on the divine aspects of the King and His kingdom. No other gospel provides such detail of the Sermon on the Mount. No other gospel so thoroughly links Jesus as the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies. True, the concept of Jesus as God’s anointed King over Israel is the point around which the Jewish people must wrestle, for if Jesus is the Messiah, then where is His kingdom? Indeed, the skeptical Gentile can ask this question as well. They, like each of us, must realign their concept of the kingdom and understand the full impact of Matthew’s personal testimony concerning Jesus, His life, His death, His resurrection, and the salvation that He offers to them and, indeed, to the whole world!
A Practical Faith A powerful and inspiring letter written to Jewish Christians fleeing persecution at the hands of violent oppressors and to believers throughout the ages, exhorting them to seek God’s wisdom for understanding and perseverance, and to closely guard the fellowship with godly wisdom, and to express their faith through good and godly works.
Based on the Acton Institute's popular documentary The Birth of Freedom, this seven-session small group bible study of the same name will help ground your faith through a powerful telling of how individual rights and freedom were born from a Judeo-Christian worldview. The Birth of Freedom traces the biblical roots of liberty and debunks the notion Christianity held back development of Western civilization. You'll learn about the historical development of the concept of freedom and see how it grows out of the Judeo-Christian worldview. Secular elites have long dictated the terms of Western history. Along the way, they have convinced many that the West is free and prosperous despite our Christian heritage. The Birth of Freedom small group study provides you with an invaluable tool for countering this revision of history and better grounding your faith in the biblical vision of freedom. This Participant's Guide, designed for use with The Birth of Freedom DVD (sold separately) provides individual and group activities, between-session personal studies, quotes, assessments, and additional background material that will enhance your experience of the video sessions. Includes discussion questions for individuals and groups. When used together they provide you with a practical tool than can transform your faith. Sessions include: 1. A Civilization without Slaves 2. The Quest for Political Freedom 3. The Myth of the Dark Ages 4. Pilgrims' Progress 5. The Abolitionists 6. A Tale of Two Revolutions 7. Relativism vs. Religion
Empowering the Church In his second epistle to the Corinthian Church, the apostle Paul empowered the church by affirming that God's strength and power is revealed and works in our weakness. The apostle empowered the church with God's strength after having confronted the immorality, doctrinal confusion and frequent disputes that had become commonplace among the Corinthian believers. Paul's message to this church was simple yet powerful: Consider the values of Christ's redemption and realign your thinking with God's instructions. Although this letter was written to admonish, instruct and encourage the early church, they are just as relevant to us today. This verse-by-verse devotional study, complete with engaging commentary and practical life applications, will challenge you to pursue a closer walk with Jesus Christ and grow in the faith.
Assuring the Believer In his letter to the Colossians, paul underscored that Christ is the transcendent sustainer of His creation. The language of the letter to the Colossians, is generally an expression of worship. As readers follow Paul’s thinking through these letters, spirits are lifted and hearts sing with praise. Then, walking with the exalted Christ, readers are urged to let the expression of praise be seen in their daily activities. In the confused and shifting sands of the theologies of today’s church, Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae sounds a clarion call to make Jesus Christ the center of Christian worship. This short letter is a challenge to today’s believers to again lift up Christ, exalt His name, and live with thanksgiving as an expression of their worship.
Each eight-week study is based on articles written by today's leading Christian authors and published by Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group.
The Christian Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics mean to you. Each 8-week study is based on articles written by some of today's leading Christian authors and published by the Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies will foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group. Faith & Work will take on a variety of topics, such as: Work-Drudgery or Delight? Ambition and Achievement A Witness at the Workplace Work & Sabbath Rest Based on articles by a variety of authors, such as: Chuck Colson Christine Gardner Marshall Shelley
Each eight-week study is based on articles written by today's leading Christian authors and published by Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group.
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