In I Want to Believe, Mel Lawrenz ignites a latent desire in all of us--the desire to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Lawrenz takes an honest dive into topics that are true areas of tension--doubt, rebirth, faith and action, and the essence of Christian faith. A fresh and engaging style draws readers into an unexpected conversation in which they receive concrete, concise descriptions of Christian faith in principle and in real life, and are shown contrasts with other faith alternatives. The chapters are skillful interweavings of narrative, illustration, and biblical reflection. Throughout the book, readers are assured that doubts are part of believing and that hardships in life do not contradict faith. For believers and seekers alike, I Want to Believe will fan the flame of faith and affirm the quest for believing.
Ideal for small groups and classes as well as personal use. Includes questions for discussion and reflection.Discover the grand pattern of God’s intention and purpose for your life If you feel that your life is a pile of puzzle pieces and you don’t know where to begin, Putting the Pieces Back Together can help you discover God’s pattern for integrity, wholeness, and reconciliation. You’ll gain a richer understanding of the Christian faith and how God can help you put the pieces together into a coherent pattern. With biblical insight, inspiring stories of real people, and thoughtful questions for discussion, this guide takes you on a journey through the major themes of Christian belief as they intersect with real-life issues. Putting the Pieces Back Together will help you build a solid foundation of faith that nothing can ever shake or destroy.
Praise for Whole Church "Mel is a thoughtful analyst of church life today. Best of all he actually does what he writes about. This book can lead to new levels of engagement for your church." John Ortberg, author and pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church "Mel Lawrenz's vision of a local church that actually reflects the wholeness and beauty of God as it engages with the Lord, one another, and the community is a much-needed call back to God's original Plan A a plan that has too often been cast aside in the name of specialization, church growth, and expediency." Larry Osborne, North Coast Church, and author, Sticky Church and Spirituality for the Rest of Us "Wow! This book is for every Christian leader who wants to move their church from a narrow self-focus to active engagement in the world with all the resources and possibilities of heaven." Mike Slaughter, Ginghamsburg Church "While Mel Lawrenz's 'four kinds of engagement' aims at congregational application, it also creates a template that individual Jesus-followers can use for self-evaluation of what it means to be the church today. The final 'dynamics' section is worth the price of admission for church leaders." Reggie McNeal, author, The Present Future and Missional Renaissance "Having known Mel Lawrenz for thirty-five years in various capacities as student, intern, colleague, and eventual successor as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church, I can testify to his keen mind, his profound respect for and knowledge of history, his forward-looking curiosity, and his undoubted communication gifts. Add all these to his many years as a seasoned practitioner of church ministry, and the result is this very helpful book, Whole Church." Stuart Briscoe, author, Flowing Streams and broadcaster, Telling the Truth
The Jubilee theme is the Old Testament concept of declaring a special season for attaining spiritual renewal. In Jubilee, Mel Lawrenz skillfully takes readers through a season of renewal, pausing to examine the following themes and inviting readers to consider their own lives and their response to God: -Sabbath: a time and an attitude in which we rehearse that God and God alone is in control -Proclamation: knowing what we stand for in life, and letting others know it -Redemption: being freed by God's great acts of deliverance -Freedom: cherishing the liberty that God brings to every area of life -Forgiveness: accepting the mercy of God and releasing those we have held indebted to ourselves -Healing: letting God restore our spirit, our body and our relationships -Justice: standing for what is right and being an advocate for those who are downtrodden
If you are in a position of positive influence, if you exercise leadership in any way, your faith in God gives you a power—a hidden power—that will allow you to make an enduring difference in the lives of other people and organizations. But how does that power work?" So says Mel Lawrenz in this fresh look at leadership which offers practical and biblical guidance to believers who want to have a deep influence and who want to know: What is the proper use of authority and power? Where do good ideas come from? How can we deal with failure? What does God expect of us? Drawing from more than thirty years of experience in pastoral ministry, Lawrenz writes for Christians in any position of influence. This book provides a new baseline for 21st century Christian leadership, addressing issues such as: • building integrity • seizing opportunities • exploring new horizons • speaking into crises • receiving power • accepting authority • promoting truth • managing expectations • dealing with criticism Using real-life examples, key Scripture passages, and history, Lawrenz shows that when believers align their responsibility to lead with the teaching of Jesus and the work of God’s Spirit, their spiritual influence will have integrity and enduring effectiveness. "Lawrenz gives us hope that the leadership pendulum which has swung from "over- spiritualized" to "de-spiritualized" in recent generations may have finally come to rest where it always belonged—upon Jesus Christ." - Skye Jethani, Senior Editor, Leadership Journal, from the foreword "It is exciting to think about believers at every level of society rising to a new call to exercise powerful spiritual influence. In his newest book, Spiritual Influence, Mel Lawrenz has given us all a new baseline for leadership that is personal, wise, and spiritual. It spans the generations and reaches across cultures. Just think what will happen if believers in positions of influence tie into the wisdom and the power that comes from God in order to bring restoration in our broken world!” - Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor, National Community Church in Washington, D.C.
If you are in a position of positive influence, if you exercise leadership in any way, your faith in God gives you a power—a hidden power—that will allow you to make an enduring difference in the lives of other people and organizations. But how does that power work?" So says Mel Lawrenz in this fresh look at leadership which offers practical and biblical guidance to believers who want to have a deep influence and who want to know: What is the proper use of authority and power? Where do good ideas come from? How can we deal with failure? What does God expect of us? Drawing from more than thirty years of experience in pastoral ministry, Lawrenz writes for Christians in any position of influence. This book provides a new baseline for 21st century Christian leadership, addressing issues such as: • building integrity • seizing opportunities • exploring new horizons • speaking into crises • receiving power • accepting authority • promoting truth • managing expectations • dealing with criticism Using real-life examples, key Scripture passages, and history, Lawrenz shows that when believers align their responsibility to lead with the teaching of Jesus and the work of God’s Spirit, their spiritual influence will have integrity and enduring effectiveness. "Lawrenz gives us hope that the leadership pendulum which has swung from 'over- spiritualized' to 'de-spiritualized' in recent generations may have finally come to rest where it always belonged—upon Jesus Christ." - Skye Jethani, Senior Editor, Leadership Journal, from the foreword "It is exciting to think about believers at every level of society rising to a new call to exercise powerful spiritual influence. In his newest book Mel Lawrenz has given us all a new baseline for leadership that is personal, wise, and spiritual. It spans the generations and reaches across cultures. Just think what will happen if believers in positions of influence tie into the wisdom and the power that comes from God in order to bring restoration in our broken world!” - Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor, National Community Church in Washington, D.C.
Have you, or someone you love, experienced the devastation of a traumatic loss? In this raw, vivid narrative, Pastor Mel Lawrenz chronicles how his family struggled to survive the sudden death of their beloved daughter. For anyone whose life has been turned upside down by grief, this beautiful memoir offers hope and companionship.
Grief, and the more debilitating emotional trauma, can result from any loss, whether the death of a loved one or a job layoff. The authors provide a broad overview of the grieving process, its defense mechanisms, and the debilitating form of trauma.
A good pattern progressively builds you up. A bad pattern relentlessly erodes your humanity. Patterning is a focused commitment to making a few habits and character traits the normal, the daily, the consistent. All life is built in patterns. Nature has its orderly patterns, from the bee building its honeycomb to the DNA encoded in genes. The Bible offers patterns for living a godly life. There are also patterns in every human life. As children of God, we have the power to choose the patterns we wish to follow. We can build patterns of behavior into our lives that shape our character, form our reputation, and determine our satisfaction in life. 'Anything we do in life with any kind of repetition is a life pattern---whether it builds us up or tears us down, ' says author and pastor Mel Lawrenz. 'Being unaware of our life patterns is about the biggest gamble any of us can take.' Patterns looks at two essential sets of biblical patterns that can help you create a God-filled life. First come the building blocks of character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then the book looks at devotion patterns: the acts that draw you closer to God, such as prayer, spiritual reading, and worship. You'll see how the different patterns relate to one another, and how you can become more aware of your own life patterns so you can make a conscious choice to develop a richer, more vibrant relationship with God. You'll learn how to practice good life patterns that offer a design for spiritual health and strength, order for spiritual direction, and consistency for an intimate dialogue with God. Patterns challenges you to cultivate habits of life deeply rooted in the love and grace of God. Lawrenz says, 'The idea of patterning is that if we follow the designs God has described in great detail, if we follow those blueprints and keep steady in those rhythms, we will experience life with a fullness and soundness that comes only from God---just like building a home according to the plan of a master architect.' Patterns is a handbook for spiritual development that encourages you to discover the patterns of your own life---and how you can nurture God-inspired life patterns that build and strengthen your Christian faith.
The Jubilee theme is the Old Testament concept of declaring a special season for attaining spiritual renewal. In Jubilee, Mel Lawrenz skillfully takes readers through a season of renewal, pausing to examine the following themes and inviting readers to consider their own lives and their response to God. Sabbath: a time and an attitude in which we rehearse that God and God alone is in control. Proclamation: knowing what we stand for in life, and letting others know it. Redemption: being freed by God’s great acts of deliverance. Freedom: cherishing the liberty that God brings to every area of life. Forgiveness: accepting the mercy of God and releasing those we have held indebted to ourselves. Healing: letting God restore our spirit, our body and our relationships. Justice: standing for what is right and being an advocate for those who are downtrodden.
The experience of loss and grief is nearly universal. This Strategic Christian Living series guide finds simple, nonthreatening ways to use recovery resources found in psychology and faith. The simplicity and empathy of this guide make it an exceptionally clear counseling handout, support group sharing tool, or gift book.
Pastors and church leaders can use the normal activities of church life to touch the innermost lives of their flock, fostering spiritual growth and building up the body of Christ.
Jesus is intriguing enough as a historical figure, but he is much more than that. Jesus the Messiah is the source of grace and truth, forgiveness and confrontation, power and wisdom and life. No wonder the apostle Paul said: "I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11). Knowing Him is a set of devotional readings focusing on why Christ came, and what he accomplished for humanity through his sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection. FROM THE INTRODUCTION, "TO THE READER" The life and teachings of Jesus are worth a lifetime of study, contemplation, and application. So too his death and resurrection. Jesus made it very clear that he had a purpose in coming, and that this purpose would be fulfilled at the time when he was betrayed, handed over to the authorities, killed, and raised from the dead. And so for centuries in the spring of the year, around the time of the Passover, Christians have turned their attention to the accounts of the suffering of Jesus, and of his astonishing resurrection from the dead. The apostle Paul said: ""I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11). In his book, The Cruciality of the Cross, P. T. Forsyth said: "Christ is to us just what his cross is. All that Christ was in heaven or on earth was put into what he did there . . . You do not understand Christ till you understand his cross." Emil Brunner said: "He who understands the cross aright... understands the Bible, he understands Jesus Christ." (The Mediator). And in The Truth of God Incarnate, Stephen Neill said "the death of Christ is the central point in history; here all the roads of the past converge; hence all the roads of the future diverge." May these short readings give you the opportunity to reflect on the truth about what God did for the human race in Christ. -Mel Lawrenz
How can we help our kids enjoy a meaningful Easter season? We know that our kids get swept up in the gifts and the lights and the celebrations of Christmas, but we also know that a real connection with the meaning of the birth of Jesus is the best thing that can happen for them--and for us. This 22-day devotional for kids will help them learn about the story of Jesus, and the meaning of his death and resurrection. Each day's short reading (a little more than 100 words) focuses on a single idea. Young readers will learn what they mean and get, through the simple illustrations, memorable pictures in their heads. Knowing Him for Kids: A Devotional for the Easter Season is appropriate for children approximately ages 6 through 13. To come together as families, parents can follow along with the adult version, Knowing Him for Kids: A Devotional for the Easter Season, which has the same daily themes as the kids' book. A WORD TO KIDS... The most wonderful story ever is about the life of Jesus. He did amazing miracles. He spoke the truth. He loved his followers, just like he loves each of us. The end of his life is so important, especially that he came back to life after his enemies had him killed! This small book is all about the wonderful life of Jesus and his resurrection which is what Easter is all about! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mel Lawrenz is the author of 19 books with Zondervan, Baker, IVP, and others. He has been a pastor for more than 35 years. He and his wife, Ingrid, raised two kids, Eva and Christopher. ALSO, FOR KIDS, A Book of Prayers for Kids: Ways to Talk to God Every Day (WordWay, 2018)
Ideal for small groups and classes as well as personal use. Includes questions for discussion and reflection.Discover the grand pattern of God’s intention and purpose for your life If you feel that your life is a pile of puzzle pieces and you don’t know where to begin, Putting the Pieces Back Together can help you discover God’s pattern for integrity, wholeness, and reconciliation. You’ll gain a richer understanding of the Christian faith and how God can help you put the pieces together into a coherent pattern. With biblical insight, inspiring stories of real people, and thoughtful questions for discussion, this guide takes you on a journey through the major themes of Christian belief as they intersect with real-life issues. Putting the Pieces Back Together will help you build a solid foundation of faith that nothing can ever shake or destroy.
In I Want to Believe, Mel Lawrenz ignites a latent desire in all of us--the desire to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Lawrenz takes an honest dive into topics that are true areas of tension--doubt, rebirth, faith and action, and the essence of Christian faith. A fresh and engaging style draws readers into an unexpected conversation in which they receive concrete, concise descriptions of Christian faith in principle and in real life, and are shown contrasts with other faith alternatives. The chapters are skillful interweavings of narrative, illustration, and biblical reflection. Throughout the book, readers are assured that doubts are part of believing and that hardships in life do not contradict faith. For believers and seekers alike, I Want to Believe will fan the flame of faith and affirm the quest for believing.
If you are in a position of positive influence, if you exercise leadership in any way, your faith in God gives you a power—a hidden power—that will allow you to make an enduring difference in the lives of other people and organizations. But how does that power work?" So says Mel Lawrenz in this fresh look at leadership which offers practical and biblical guidance to believers who want to have a deep influence and who want to know: What is the proper use of authority and power? Where do good ideas come from? How can we deal with failure? What does God expect of us? Drawing from more than thirty years of experience in pastoral ministry, Lawrenz writes for Christians in any position of influence. This book provides a new baseline for 21st century Christian leadership, addressing issues such as: • building integrity • seizing opportunities • exploring new horizons • speaking into crises • receiving power • accepting authority • promoting truth • managing expectations • dealing with criticism Using real-life examples, key Scripture passages, and history, Lawrenz shows that when believers align their responsibility to lead with the teaching of Jesus and the work of God’s Spirit, their spiritual influence will have integrity and enduring effectiveness. "Lawrenz gives us hope that the leadership pendulum which has swung from "over- spiritualized" to "de-spiritualized" in recent generations may have finally come to rest where it always belonged—upon Jesus Christ." - Skye Jethani, Senior Editor, Leadership Journal, from the foreword "It is exciting to think about believers at every level of society rising to a new call to exercise powerful spiritual influence. In his newest book, Spiritual Influence, Mel Lawrenz has given us all a new baseline for leadership that is personal, wise, and spiritual. It spans the generations and reaches across cultures. Just think what will happen if believers in positions of influence tie into the wisdom and the power that comes from God in order to bring restoration in our broken world!” - Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor, National Community Church in Washington, D.C.
Have you, or someone you love, experienced the devastation of a traumatic loss? In this raw, vivid narrative, Pastor Mel Lawrenz chronicles how his family struggled to survive the sudden death of their beloved daughter. For anyone whose life has been turned upside down by grief, this beautiful memoir offers hope and companionship.
Praise for Whole Church "Mel is a thoughtful analyst of church life today. Best of all he actually does what he writes about. This book can lead to new levels of engagement for your church." John Ortberg, author and pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church "Mel Lawrenz's vision of a local church that actually reflects the wholeness and beauty of God as it engages with the Lord, one another, and the community is a much-needed call back to God's original Plan A a plan that has too often been cast aside in the name of specialization, church growth, and expediency." Larry Osborne, North Coast Church, and author, Sticky Church and Spirituality for the Rest of Us "Wow! This book is for every Christian leader who wants to move their church from a narrow self-focus to active engagement in the world with all the resources and possibilities of heaven." Mike Slaughter, Ginghamsburg Church "While Mel Lawrenz's 'four kinds of engagement' aims at congregational application, it also creates a template that individual Jesus-followers can use for self-evaluation of what it means to be the church today. The final 'dynamics' section is worth the price of admission for church leaders." Reggie McNeal, author, The Present Future and Missional Renaissance "Having known Mel Lawrenz for thirty-five years in various capacities as student, intern, colleague, and eventual successor as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church, I can testify to his keen mind, his profound respect for and knowledge of history, his forward-looking curiosity, and his undoubted communication gifts. Add all these to his many years as a seasoned practitioner of church ministry, and the result is this very helpful book, Whole Church." Stuart Briscoe, author, Flowing Streams and broadcaster, Telling the Truth
A good pattern progressively builds you up. A bad pattern relentlessly erodes your humanity. Patterning is a focused commitment to making a few habits and character traits the normal, the daily, the consistent. All life is built in patterns. Nature has its orderly patterns, from the bee building its honeycomb to the DNA encoded in genes. The Bible offers patterns for living a godly life. There are also patterns in every human life. As children of God, we have the power to choose the patterns we wish to follow. We can build patterns of behavior into our lives that shape our character, form our reputation, and determine our satisfaction in life. 'Anything we do in life with any kind of repetition is a life pattern---whether it builds us up or tears us down, ' says author and pastor Mel Lawrenz. 'Being unaware of our life patterns is about the biggest gamble any of us can take.' Patterns looks at two essential sets of biblical patterns that can help you create a God-filled life. First come the building blocks of character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then the book looks at devotion patterns: the acts that draw you closer to God, such as prayer, spiritual reading, and worship. You'll see how the different patterns relate to one another, and how you can become more aware of your own life patterns so you can make a conscious choice to develop a richer, more vibrant relationship with God. You'll learn how to practice good life patterns that offer a design for spiritual health and strength, order for spiritual direction, and consistency for an intimate dialogue with God. Patterns challenges you to cultivate habits of life deeply rooted in the love and grace of God. Lawrenz says, 'The idea of patterning is that if we follow the designs God has described in great detail, if we follow those blueprints and keep steady in those rhythms, we will experience life with a fullness and soundness that comes only from God---just like building a home according to the plan of a master architect.' Patterns is a handbook for spiritual development that encourages you to discover the patterns of your own life---and how you can nurture God-inspired life patterns that build and strengthen your Christian faith.
The Jubilee theme is the Old Testament concept of declaring a special season for attaining spiritual renewal. In Jubilee, Mel Lawrenz skillfully takes readers through a season of renewal, pausing to examine the following themes and inviting readers to consider their own lives and their response to God: -Sabbath: a time and an attitude in which we rehearse that God and God alone is in control -Proclamation: knowing what we stand for in life, and letting others know it -Redemption: being freed by God's great acts of deliverance -Freedom: cherishing the liberty that God brings to every area of life -Forgiveness: accepting the mercy of God and releasing those we have held indebted to ourselves -Healing: letting God restore our spirit, our body and our relationships -Justice: standing for what is right and being an advocate for those who are downtrodden
Pastors and church leaders can use the normal activities of church life to touch the innermost lives of their flock, fostering spiritual growth and building up the body of Christ.
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