Search Results for: Church
Showing 451–525 of 674 results
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Modern Church History
$52.99Add to cart“This is the SCM Core Text: “”Modern Church History”” provides an introduction to global Christianity from 1700 to the mid 20th C. The book aims to help students understand the processes, movements and individuals who have contributed to making the contemporary Christian landscape the shape it is in the 21st century. Theologically it takes a wide and inclusive approach to provide a balanced survey of Christianity in all its forms – Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox. Geographically it focuses on the Christian church in the UK, continental Europe and North America, and examines in each location the social movements, campaigns and campaigners, scientific and political challenges that have shaped the Christian Church throughout the period.Beginning with the reaction to Lutherism, it charts the rise of Pietism in Europe throughout the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the influence of John Wesley and the Methodists, in the UK and the ‘Great Awakening’ in North America. The early chapters summarize the developments within th
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Sharing Gods Love In Childrens Church
$21.99Add to cartA book filled with active, hands-on programs designed for ages three to seven. Each program features a simple Christian message; a Bible verse; a story; a prayer; time to sharing; time for singing; a snack; and a game, craft, or additional activity. The programs are structured to last from thirty-five to forty minutes. An additional activity is included in each program for those who want to extend children’s church to a full hour. Supplies and set-up are kept to a minimum and the book’s easy-to-use format makes it just right for today’s busy teacher.
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Handbook On Church Doctrine
$16.99Add to cartTo effectively serve Christ and share our faith with others, we must understand what they believe. To understand, we must study different faiths and religions and how they reflect the teachings of the Bible. Based on years of study and evangelism work, Dr. Stafford North explores seven topics as taught by ten different churches.
Topics include:
The Nature of God–the Trinity, Miracles
The Nature of Man–the Soul, the Fall and Original Sin, Predestination
The Scriptures–Inspiration, the Old and New Testaments
Salvation
The Church
Worship
Last ThingsChurches include:
Roman Catholic Church
Presbyterian Church
Baptist Church
Methodist Church
Disciples of Christ
Seventh-Day Adventists
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons)
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Assemblies of God
Church of the NazareneOriginally written as a study for college students, Handbook of Church Doctrines is now in its 13th printing in a revised and updated edition, including a new section on Islam.
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Human Face Of The Church
$35.00Add to cartUntil now, Fresh Expressions has been about starting and sustaining mission initiatives among people with little or no church contact. As these projects mature, pastoral problem easily arise – how do you integrate the old with the new? How do you get an established congregation to change it views and practices? How do you cope with conflict? What if newcomers challenge set patterns of church behaviour rather than conform with them? This highly practical text and workbook draws on the behavioural theory and organisational studies to train and equip local church leaders and congregations not only to manage change but to grow through of it.
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Cultivating Prayer And Intercession In The Local Church
$9.99Add to cartCultivating Prayer And Intercession In The Local Church is a dynamo in a small package. From his years of experience, personal and corporate observation, and mentoring of prayer warriors, layers of revelation and clear understanding open before the discerning reader. Wave upon wave of anointed illustration, interspersed with plentiful Scripture proofs, combine to sweep one into the stream of intercession which is the writer’s passion. Far from dry, this brief but powerful treatise resonates with true devotion and an infectious spirit of the joy of prayer.
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Local Church Today (Student/Study Guide)
$15.99Add to cartThis book is intended to help you better understand God’s glorious purpose in the Church and your individual part in that purpose. It will give you the vision from God’s perspective rather than man’s. Your faith will be strengthened to see the Church of Jesus Christ fulfill everything that God has purposed.
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Hidden Histories In The United Church Of Christ 1
$18.00Add to cartPublisher Marketing: This collection of essays expands knowledge about the diversity of the UCC, and connects the UCC with many significant developments in American religious and ethnic history. It explores such areas as Native American Protestantism, black Christian churches, a schism in the German Reformed Church, Armenian congregationalism’s missionary beginnings, German congregationalism, blacks and the American Missionary Association, Deaconess ministries, the Schwenkfelders, the Calvin Synod (Hungarian), women’s work and women’s boards, and Japanese-American congregationalists.
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Hidden Histories In The United Church Of Christ 2
$20.00Add to cartHidden Histories 2 invites readers to enhance their knowledge of history as an important source of spiritual strength for these times. It also examines more deeply what it means for the United Church of Christ to celebrate its unity in diversity. It explores such areas as Lutheran and Reformed Cooperation; German Evangelical Protestants; Origins of the Christian Denomination in New England; Evangelical Pietism and Biblical Criticism; Women’s Mission Structures and the American Board; Religious Journalism; Philip William Otterbein and the United Brethren; From German Reformed Roots to the Churches of God; The Congregational Training School for Women; and Chinese Congregationalism.
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Prayer Saturated Church
$19.99Add to cartImagine what God can do with a church totally dependent upon Him. This book shows how your church can become a prayer-saturated church. With CD.
This book provides all the step-by-step, practical help a pastor or prayer leader needs to mobilize, organize, and motivate believers to make their church a house of prayer. Includes insights into the role of the church prayer coordinator, how to assess your church’s needs, strategies for mobilizing your church to pray, and much more. This comprehensive resource also comes with a CD that contains printable forms-publicity templates, sign-up applications, prayer guides, and more-to promote a prayer ministry and to encourage and energize your congregation to pray.
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History Of The Reformed Presbyterian Church In America
$50.00Add to cartPrint on demand
Students of Presbyterian church history will discover a whole family of churches whose history sparkles with remarkable personalities and noteworthy achievements, however much they may have been forgotten in the years that followed. Reformed Presbyterians, Associate Reformed Presbyterians, and the dwindling numbers of those who once belonged to the United Presbyterian Church of North America, will all give thanks for the history that is brought to light in these pages. We ‘Scottish Dissenting Presbyterians’ have a goodly heritage. We have much to discover about our forbears in the faith, and what they accomplished in their day; and much as well to consider with regard to how their distinctive principles and practices may have something vital to contribute to our churches and to our nation today. -Ray B. Lanning and Nathan P. Eshelman, From the Introduction. -
Deacon Letters : From A Montana Woman To Her Church Family 1995-2005
$17.99Add to cartWritten over a ten year period, these Letters convey with wisdom, humor and candor not only the joys and quiet pleasures but also the inevitable strivings and sorrows of a mature life. As a Vocational Deacon, speaking from a place somewhere between the altar and the congregation, the writer inspires readers to experience fully the small and large moments of their own lives, and to pursue the Christian life with gratitude, charity, hope and a cheerful heart.
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Marketing Your Church To The Community
$11.99Add to cartMarketing Your Church To The Community is an invaluable guide for getting a church’s message to the community – directly and effectively. The guide’s direct approach, using catchy icons and an easy-to-follow layout, moves the reader quickly and easily from defining and articulating the church’s message to selecting the best options for reaching the congregation’s target group from a myriad of options available.
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Evangelism In The Small Membership Church
$17.99Add to cartSpeidel explores how evangelism not only concerns introducing people to Jesus, but also helping them grow in Christ. Making disciples is a call from God for all churches whether that church is in a declining rural community, in a teeming inner city, or a sprawling suburb. In fact, small-membership congregations are often more effective in evangelism than their sister megachurches.
This book helps pastors focus on visualizing goals; worship; creating a loving environment; passion and commitment; prayer; witness; time management; leadership recruitment; hospitality; assimilation of new members; and managing change and conflict. -
Church History : A Crash Course For The Curious
$19.99Add to cartIn this concise, accessible guide, author Christopher Catherwood takes his readers through the history of the faith, educating them about the uniqueness of Christianity from its birth to the diverse, global Evangelical Church we know today. Church History is the perfect place to start for anyone who wants to know where to begin this quest for knowledge.
Enjoy discovering more about the lives of men and women from various times and places, not only to better understand the church, but also to know how to live wisely in this age. These are some of the many reasons why history is so important.
From those who desire to learn more about their fellow followers of Jesus Christ throughout history to those who want to learn more about church for themselves, this book will test you to dig deeper in your faith.
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Ushering 101 : The Complete Handbook Of Ushering For The Local Church
$10.99Add to cartUshering in the local church is much more than just shaking hands and passing offering plates. Fulfilling your role as an usher is just as important to the body of Christ as that of a prophet, teacher or evangelist.
This book covers both the biblical and the practical aspects of church ushering. Buddy Bell, founder of Ministry of Helps International, combines humor with informative teaching to help you become more effective in your ministry. You will be challenged to serve with excellence as you learn the following:
The scriptural role of ushering
Leadership by example
The legal do’s and don’ts of ushering
The responsibilities of the head usher
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Innovative Planning : Your Church In 4-D
$27.99Add to cartFor leaders of small organizations – churches and businesses – who do not have a regular, ongoing planning process, this book will be your guide to becoming an innovative planner for your group’s future.
This book presents a solid process for developing complete organizational planning – from vision, to mission, to strategies. It also includes the day-to-day operations – the level at which the vision ultimately comes to fruition.
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Divorce And Remarriage In The Church
$24.00Add to cartWill God allow me to divorce my abusive husband?
Would it be a sin if I remarried?
Divorce and remarriage are major pastoral issues facing every church. Yet when we turn to Scripture for guidance, we often hear conflicting messages about its teachings.
David Instone-Brewer shows how, when properly understood, the New Testament provides faithful, realistic and wise guidance of crucial importance and practical help for the church today.
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Inclusive God : Reclaiming Theology For An Inclusive Church
$20.00Add to cartToo often, Christian churches’ recent debates and traumas are presented as battles between traditional upholders of Christian truth on the one hand, and trendy liberals on the other. The Inclusive God breaks throughthese stereotypes. It shows how and why the move to make the church more inclusive – of women, gays, people of different races and cultures – is rooted in the mainstream of Christian belief. Including people of all kinds in the full life of the Church is not ‘trendy’ but the authentic expression of Christian truth.
Written in accessible and punchy prose, this book shows how the main doctrines of the Church reflect an open and hospitable Christian vision. Including gays and women in the full life of the Church is not some trendy innovation: it’s just good old-fashioned Christian ethics: loving others as we love ourselves.
Somehow the modern Church has lost touch with this basic Christian wisdom. Too often the Churches look like agents of hatred and exclusion, actively encouraging discrimination and condemnation of others. Many in the secular world look on appalled at the discrimination within the Church and the uncharitable pronouncements of Church leaders. The challenge now is to recover the loving, positive and inclusive Christian ideals that inspired Jesus and the first Christians.
Refreshingly direct and provocative, this book is not only a wake-up call to the churches. It is also a challenge to those outside their walls, to lay aside their preconceptions. True Christianity, it argues, is at the cutting edge of inclusion, justice and freedom.
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Emergent Theology For Emerging Churches
$30.00Add to cartExplaining that an emergent theology is messianic, revelational, kingdom-coming and eschatological, this book adresses many of the concerns of those looking for a church that is contemporary, yet true to the gospel.
If you wrestle with the challenges that face the church in these “postmodern” days, you will benefit from this book.
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Life Scripts For The Church Volume 1
$24.99Add to cartThis is the first in a series of volumes, each containing 24 skits of brilliant, insightful, often comedic material ideal for performance during church services. Does not require huge casts or highly experienced players — most skits use 2-6 performers, m
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Life Scripts For The Church Volume 2
$24.99Add to cartThis is the second in a series of volumes, each containing 24 skits of brilliant, insightful, often comedic material ideal for performance during church services. Does not require huge casts or highly experienced players — most skits use 2-6 performers,
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Divine Agenda : A Last Day Message To The Church
$16.99Add to cartThere is much to be done before the close of the Church Age. Many have confused busyness with My work, My Spirit work. I have a plan, an ordered list of things that must be done, A Divine Agenda!” This is no ordinary book. Dr. Stephens shares a message given her by the Holy Spirit. Your spirit will bear witness as you discover the seven critical things on His agenda that every believer must know. Individually and corporately, the Holy Spirit instructs His Body, “See to it that you do these things”: First and Foremost, Love, Love, Love Trust Me – I Am Your Source Discern the Spirit of Division Among You Do Not Neglect Your Work Set the Captives Free Replace Fear With Peace Sow Into My Kingdom Each critical “must do” is addressed in a separate chapter as Stephens shares personal insights, visions, dreams, revelations, and encounters with angels and demons. These augment the Spirit’s message as they attest to His faithfulness to guide, bless, chastise, and deliver His children from evil. In this book you will also discover ten practical ways to overcome fear. Key points at the end of each chapter make A Divine Agenda an excellent source for private devotions or group study
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Life Scripts For The Church Volume 3 Holiday
$24.99Add to cartThis is the third in a series of volumes, each containing 24 skits of brilliant, insightful, often comedic material ideal for performance during church services, specifically geared to the major holidays. Does not require huge casts or highly experienc
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Praying With The Church
$18.99Add to cartScot McKnight, best-selling author of The Jesus Creed, invites readers to get closer to the heart of Jesus’ message by discovering the ancient rhythms of daily prayer at the heart of the early church. “This is the old path of praying as Jesus prayed,” McKnight explains, “and in that path, we learn to pray along with the entire Church and not just by ourselves as individuals.” Praying with the Church is written for all Christians who desire to know more about the ancient devotional traditions of the Christian faith, and to become involved in their renaissance today. With his trademark style of getting right to the heart of theological concepts through practical, witty, and memorable examples from everyday life, Scot invites readers to explore: -How Jesus prayed -How the Psalms teach us to pray -How Orthodox Christians pray -How Roman Catholics pray -How Anglicans pray -How The Divine Hours of Phyllis Tickle teaches us to pray -And, how praying with the church is an essential part of spiritual formation.
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Multi Site Church Revolution
$22.99Add to cartHow multi-site churches increase their evangelistic impact. Rather than pouring millions of dollars into constructing new buildings, churches of all sizes are learning new ways to take church to the streets, reaching people in new ways. They extend into gyms and multipurpose rooms, or across town into theaters, schools, and empty warehouses. From the suburbs to urban and rural settings, churches are discovering the advantage of becoming “one church, with many locations.” This book from a new publishing partnership between Zondervan and Leadership Network called the Leadership Network Innovation Series tells the story of this revolution and explains the multi-site ministry approach as a way of serving a variety of target groups and target communities. Through in-the-trenches examples from more than fifty different multi-site churches, it highlights a wide variety of creative approaches and identifies the primary reasons multi-site churches succeed-as well as how they overcome common snags. Written in an extremely practical style, this book guides churches to answer the question, “How could God use our church if we were open to joining this ‘revolution’?”
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Hymns And Church Songs Live From Alabama (DVD)
$14.99Add to cartSKU (UPC): 014998415197Artist: Leonard ScottMedia: Video DVDReleased: April 2006Provident Distribution Songs1. Pentecostal Praise2. Bless The Lord O My Soul3. My Body Belongs To God4. He Arose5. Sing Unto The King6. Charge To Keep I Have7. Great Is Thy Faithfulness8. He Is Lord9. Blessed Assurance10. Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross11. Amen
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So You Dont Want To Go To Church Anymore
$15.99Add to cartWhat would you do if you met someone you thought just might be one of Jesus’ original disciples still living in the 21st Century? That’s Jake’s dilemma as he meets a man who talks of Jesus as if he had known him personally. This is Jake’s compelling journal that chronicles thirteen conversations with his newfound friend over a four-year period and how those exchanges turn Jake’s world upside-down. With his help, Jake faces his darkest fears, struggles through brutal circumstances and comes out on the other side in the joy and freedom he always dreamed was possible.
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Called To Be Church
$31.99Add to cartDescription: Called to be Church seeks to introduce Acts to a congregation of faithful readers. It includes such topics as Christian community, the Holy Spirit and the life of the Church, the conversion of Saul to become the great missionary to the Gentiles, the Gospel to a multicultural church as particularly related to the ministry of Peter, the challenge of change, and a host of other topics that stem from the study of the book of Acts.
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Basic Business Principles For Growing Churches
$10.95Add to cartPastors are schooled in theology and ministry, but few receive training in the fine points of church administration. Learning how to handle a congregation’s finances “on the job” can be a harrowing experience. Yet efficiently managing your church’s business affairs is a key element in keeping current members satisfied with their pastoral leadership — and in attracting the new members you need for your church to grow in size and influence.
In Basic Business Principles For Growing Churches, Arnold Cirtin shares expertise gained from more than four decades of corporate and academic experience. He provides a clear and helpful primer for pastors with limited training in business administration on such practical topics as accounting, fiscal management, and marketing.
This is an indispensable book for pastors of small- and medium-sized churches (who typically are also their congregations’ principal financial officers), as well as for church treasurers, trustees, and other financial board members. When you follow the guidelines in Basic Business Principles For Growing Churches, your church will be fiscally responsible, managed efficiently, and able to maximize its growing stewardship of God’s resources.
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Cruciform Church : Becoming A Cross Shaped People In A Secular World (Anniversar
$19.99Add to cartThis new edition of The Cruciform Church finds Churches of Christ at a quite different place than they were sixteen years ago when the book was first released. On the one hand, our culture is more clearly post-modern and post-Christian. All of the Christian players today are finding themselves cultural outsiders, much like the earliest Christians. We are waking up to the reality that we are in a missionary situation in our own culture, and this is forcing us (slowly, by fits and starts) to rethink our priorities and our mission. On the other hand, Churches of Christ themselves are engaging more and more in the kind of healthy theological rethinking that this book called for back in 1990. Many congregations are shedding the sectarian or exclusivist outlook, gaining new appreciation for their heritage, refocusing on the central doctrines of the faith, and entering into serious dialogue about carrying out the mission of God in this new time…Perhaps this new edition can continue to provide stimulus and guidance as the adventure continues. Toward that end, this edition contains a new chapter, “Last(ing) Things,” that seeks to show the close relationship between eschatology and discipleship, between one’s view of the coming kingdom of God and the cruciform life.” – From Allen’s Preface to the Revised Edition
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Key Moments In Church History
$116.00Add to cartAcknowledgments
Introduction
Jesus Of Nazareth
The Early Church
The Church Gives Birth To The New Testament
The Constantinian Era
The Council Of Chalcedon
The Crusades, The Inquisition, Saint Dominic And St. Francis Of Assisi
The Protestant Reformation
The Council Of Trent
Ultramontanism And The First Vatican Council
Pius X And The Modernist Crisis
John XXIII And The Second Vatican Council
Epilogue: The Current State Of The Church
Additional Info
Spanning from the birth of Christianity through the Crusades and the Protestant Reformation to John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, Key Moments in Church History is a brief and accessible guide to the origins and evolution of the Catholic Church. In this insightful and informative look at eleven of the most significant periods in church history, Finley not only helps readers understand the context and characters of the past, but sheds light on the current and future Church. The result is a hopeful and inspirational reading experience that is ideal for personal reflection or group use -
Loving The Church Blessing The Nations
$30.00Add to cartIVP Print On Demand Title
Rediscovering the role God designed for the church in mission is a critical issue facing the missions movement today. That role is to glorify God by planting churches among every tongue, tribe, and nation. Planting churches amid unreached peoples is a complex process. It calls forth every ministry gift and the contribution of every believer.
Imagine a businessman, a construction worker, a schoolteacher, and an engineer all working together to support the development of a local church amongst an unreached people group in another part of the world. Most Christians will not leave home and go elsewhere to minister. If they are to participate in God’s global mission, they must be affirmed, developed and released right where they live, in the context of their local church. This book shows how churches can become centers of mission vision and implementation and so accomplish God’s design for the local church.
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Key Moments In Church History
$35.00Add to cartAcknowledgments
Introduction
Jesus Of Nazareth
The Early Church
The Church Gives Birth To The New Testament
The Constantinian Era
The Council Of Chalcedon
The Crusades, The Inquisition, Saint Dominic And St. Francis Of Assisi
The Protestant Reformation
The Council Of Trent
Ultramontanism And The First Vatican Council
Pius X And The Modernist Crisis
John XXIII And The Second Vatican Council
Epilogue: The Current State Of The Church
Additional Info
Spanning from the birth of Christianity through the Crusades and the Protestant Reformation to John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, Key Moments in Church History is a brief and accessible guide to the origins and evolution of the Catholic Church. In this insightful and informative look at eleven of the most significant periods in church history, Finley not only helps readers understand the context and characters of the past, but sheds light on the current and future Church. The result is a hopeful and inspirational reading experience that is ideal for personal reflection or group use -
Great Giveaway : Reclaiming The Mission Of The Church (Reprinted)
$22.00Add to cartHas the North American church relinquished her God-given mission to parachurch organizations, psychotherapy, and consumer capitalism? Warning that postmodern evangelicals are increasingly modeling their ministries after secular sciences and “farming out” church functions in the name of efficiency, Fitch challenges believers to reclaim the lost practices of evangelism, physical healing, and spiritual formation.
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Towards A Truly Catholic Church
$24.95Add to cartHow should we understand church? Is it visible or invisible, one or many, local or universal, hierarchical or congregational in its structure, sacramental or biblical in its expression? Different Christians–whether Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or Evangelical–tend to approach these foundational questions through the lenses of their own histories and traditions. Some place great weight on the Church’s Christological foundations, and thus on history. Others place more emphasis on the dynamic work of the Spirit, with its capacity to introduce the new and the unexpected. Others see an original diversity of ecclesiologies, grounding a contemporary pluralism of confessions. These lenses color not just how Christians see the church today, but also how they imagine it for tomorrow.
In Towards a Truly Catholic Church, Thomas Rausch, SJ, draws on these different voices to develop a theology for the church that builds on the work of the Vatican II, is ecumenical in its approach, and envisions the church in the context of globalization. In an increasingly interconnected world, Rausch offers hope that tomorrow’s church will be a world church, a communion that reconciles unity in diversity.
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Labyrinth Year : Walking The Seasons Of The Church
$17.95Add to cartPerhaps nothing expresses the mystery of our search for the divine as well as the labyrinth. A circular pathway based on spirals found in nature, the labyrinth is a time-honored spiritual tool in faith traditions as varied as Native American, Jewish, and Celtic. As seekers walk to the center of the labyrinth, their minds quiet and turn to God. Walking out again, they bring into the world the spiritual gifts they?ve received. In A Labyrinth Year, Kautz guides readers on a labyrinth pilgrimage that winds through the seasons of the liturgical year with devotions (to be used while walking the labyrinth) based on the thoughts and emotions of biblical characters whose stories are recalled in the seasonal scripture readings. As readers explore the journeys of these people of faith, they connect with the deeper meaning of the stories and learn to live them out in their own experience.
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Womans Place : House Churches In Earliest Christianity
$31.00Add to cartAcknowledgments
1.Introduction
2.Dutiful And Less Than Dutiful Wives Giving Birth: Labor, Nursing, And Care Of Infants In House-Church Communities
3.Growing Up In House-Church Communities
4.Female Slaves: Twice Vulnerable
5.Ephesians 5 And The Politics Of Marriage
6.Women Leaders Of Households And Christian Assemblies
7.Women Leaders In Family Funerary Banquets By Janet H. Tulloch
8.Women Patrons In The Life Of House Churches
9.Women As Agents Of Expansion
10.Conclusion: Discovering A Woman’s PlaceAbbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Index Of Ancient Sources
Index Of Modern Authors
Index Of SubjectsAdditional Info
This focused look at women in the household context discusses the importance of issues of space and visibility in shaping the lives of early Christian women. Several aspects of women’s everyday existence are investigated, including the lives of wives, widows, women with children, female slaves, women as patrons, household leaders, and teachers. In addition, several key themes emerge: hospitality, dining practices, and the extent of female segregation. -
Holy Meal : The Lords Supper In The Life Of The Church
$20.00Add to cart“This is my body,” said Jesus at the Last Supper. What did he mean? Throughout church history, there have been various interpretations of his words. These differences have caused denominational ruptures that have yet to heal.
In A Holy Meal, Gordon T. Smith shows that we cannot appreciate the Lord’s Supper until we understand it. In light of the renewed attention given to the sacraments by all branches of the church, he examines the historic interpretations and seeks common ground among believers. In the process, he shows how the Lord’s Supper can infuse new meaning into the church as it confronts the forces of postmodernism and secularism.
A Holy Meal is essential reading for Christians who want to ponder the Lord’s Supper again–perhaps truly for the first time.
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Truth Aflame : Theology For The Church In Renewal (Revised)
$32.99Add to cartMost systematic theologies are long, detailed works of over one thousand pages, or even multiple volumes. This book is a much briefer and more accessible systematic theology written from an evangelical Pentecostal/charismatic position. This book is ideal for college students and busy pastors who want to be aware of the Pentecostal charismatic positions on various doctrines, but who do not wish to wade through pages and pages of analyses and rebuttals. While author Larry Hart does not ignore other theological interpretations, he does not write detailed apologies against other points of view to defend his position. In a writing style that is easy to follow, with a practical pastoral flavor, Hart presents the structure of his systematic theology in a succinct, clear manner. This book includes both brief and detailed tables of contents.
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Revival : Gods Proven Method Of Awakening His Church
$14.99Add to cartGod longs to send a nationwide revival wherever He finds a people totally obedient to His will and given to desperate prayer. Revival-God’s Proven Method of Awakening His Church is the result of the author being deeply touched by God for revival, which led to his becoming involved in the awakening experienced in central India in 1969. In this study you’ll find examples of God’s response to the prevailing prayer of His people in the Old and New Testaments, in church history, and in Europe, Asia, and America, as well as His work in the lives of individuals, churches, and colleges in America and large areas of many nations-all of which have been changed by the work of His Spirit. In answer to God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people will…I will…,” Christians in India prayed and God answered. Even so, our hearts resonate with Habakkuk, as he prayed, “In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by” (LB).
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Saving Power : Theories Of Atonement And Forms Of The Church
$41.99Add to cartJesus’ death and resurrection are undeniably central to the Christian faith. But how, precisely, is their significance to be understood?
Concerned to reinvigorate the church’s teaching on the cross, the resurrection, and salvation – the atonement – Peter Schmiechen here invites readers to rediscover the wealth of the Christian tradition. In Saving Power he makes ample use of primary sources to unpack ten distinct theories of atonement, welcoming aspects of each rather than championing only one. Along the way, he demonstrates that while most Christians assume the basic theme of atonement to be sin and forgiveness, other powerful themes – liberation from oppressive powers, reconciliation in the face of division, and the hope of resurrection in the face of death, for instance – also deserve to be studied and preached.
Affirming orthodox teaching while offering a positive take on marginal views, Saving Power is a crucial resource for anyone who seeks a fuller understanding of Christ’s work.
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New Testament Church And Its Ministries
$12.99Add to cartNew Testament Church And It Ministries lays out God’s plan for the church’s construction and His concern for the active involvement of every member in their ministry and calling. Emphasizing the function of the members, each of the five-fold ministries is defined and developed in the context of its function in the Body of Christ..
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Church And Stage
$16.95Add to cartChurch and Stage is a guide for people in churches who want to employ theater in ministry, and for theater people who want to create opportunities to work in churches. The points of contact between religion and theater are numerous, and Dean J. Seal offers guidelines for making the connection work no matter what level of experience or financial commitment a congregation brings to the task. The author, who has worked in the worlds of both church and stage, provides background on the historical and theological relationship between religion and theater. He then offers practical advice and guidelines for the use of theater in the context of ministry-from discussion groups to bibliodrama to play-going to ultimately producing a show. This book is a resource for ministers, lay leaders, youth groups, and members of the theater community who desire greater integration of faith and work.
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Drama Of Dance In The Local Church
$13.49Add to cartWhat is liturgical dance? And where does it come from? Does it have any scriptural foundation? These are relevant questions discussed in The Drama of Dance in the Local Church, which looks at liturgical dance and its place in the worship service. Liturgical dance has been acknowledged by many in the religious community as a way to assist individuals and church bodies in enhancing the worship experience. This book is for anyone who wishes to explore their gifts through drama and dance, as well as those who are still struggling with the idea of dance in the church. It is designed to help readers understand the great significance a liturgical dance ministry can have on the church. It will help familiarize church leaders and parishioners with scriptures that support dance ministries.
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Loving The Church
$9.99Add to cartDeveloping a healthy, loving congregation begins with a clear understanding of the nature of the church. Loving the Church addresses the different attitudes and ideas associated with the visible church. Larry McKain shows you how to develop a new vision for your community of faith and helps you discover a renewed passion for Christ and His kingdom.
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Church Struggle In South Africa (Anniversary)
$29.00Add to cartForeword
Postscript To The Third Edition: Locating The Church Struggle In South Africa In The Wider Historiography Of The Church In South Africa
1.Historical Origins
2.Apartheid And The Churches
3.The Growing Conflict
4.Black Renaissance, Protest, And Challenge
5.Resistance, Repression And The Transition To Democracy
6.From Church Struggle To Church StrugglesAppendix: Religious Affiliation In South Africa In 1996
Additional Info
This widely acclaimed and influential volume by internationally noted theologian John de Gruchy is now available in a greatly revised and expanded 25th anniversary edition that places the monumental religious struggle against South African apartheid into a larger and instructive global setting. Fully updated, John De Gruchy’s authoritative account of Christian complicity with and then resistance to one of the world’s most notoriously repressive regimes holds indispensable lessons and “dangerous memories” for all concerned about evil, justice, and racial reconciliation. -
Understanding Church Growth (Revised)
$34.99Add to cartAuthor Donald A. McGavran is considered a founder of the Church Growth Movement in America. In this 3rd edition of his standard work, McGavaran analyzes the causes, methods and strategies for successful church growth both in America and abroad.
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Becoming Conversant With The Emerging Church
$24.99Add to cartA perceptive evaluation of the new “emerging church” movement showing how we must not only interact with a fast-changing culture but also have our vision and practice of ministry shaped by biblical theology with Scripture as the norm.
From the Back Cover
A careful and informed assessment of the “emerging church” by a respected author and scholar
The “emerging church” movement has generated a lot of excitement and exerts an astonishingly broad influence. Is it the wave of the future or a passing fancy? Who are the leaders and what are they saying?The time has come for a mature assessment. D. A. Carson not only gives those who may be unfamiliar with it a perceptive introduction to the emerging church movement, but also includes a skillful assessment of its theological views. Carson addresses some troubling weaknesses of the movement frankly and thoughtfully, while at the same time recognizing that it has important things to say to the rest of Christianity. The author strives to provide a perspective that is both honest and fair.
Anyone interested in the future of the church in a rapidly changing world will find this an informative and stimulating read.
D. A. Carson (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of over 45 books, including the Gold Medallion Award-winning book The Gagging of God, and is general editor of Telling the Truth and Worship by the Book. He has served as a pastor and is an active guest lecturer in church and academic settings around the world.
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Culture Shift : Transforming Your Church From The Inside Out
$27.00Add to cartAbout Leadership Network.
Foreword (Erwin Raphael McManus).Preface.
PART ONE: Awakening To Culture.
1. Why Culture Matters.
2. Your Destiny In Seed Form.
3. What You Think Is What You See.
PART TWO: Birthing The Culture.
4. Totems: Identifying Your Church’s Culture.
5. How To Shift Your Church’s Culture.
6. Divine Partnership.
PART THREE: Growing The Culture At New Hope O’ahu.
7. Identifying New Hope’s Totems.
8. Culture Setters.
9. Plug-and-Play Subculture Vs. Authentic Culture.
10. Creating And Re-Creating Culture.
PART FOUR: Growing The Culture At Fellowship Bible Church.
11. Identifying Fellowship Bible’s Totems.
12. The Power Of A Disciplined Vision.
13. Learning To Spot Opportunity.
14. Courageous Adjustments To Safeguard The Values.
PART FIVE: Advancing The Culture.
15. Irresistible Culture.
Notes.
Appendix One: Involvement And Satisfaction Survey.
Appendix Two: Sample Pages From A Life Journal.
Bibliography.
Acknowledgments.
About The Authors.
Index.
Additional Info
Culture Shift, written for church leaders, ministers, pastors, ministry teams, and lay leaders, leads you through the process of identifying your church’s distinctive culture, gives you practical tools to change it from the inside-out, and provides steps to keep your new culture aligned with your church’s mission. Real transformation is not about working harder at what you’re already doing or even copying another church’s approach but about changing church culture at a foundational level. -
Healthy Small Church
$13.99Add to cartLike Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, a healthy church balances the well-being of its individual members with that of the entire church. If a church is afflicted with unhealthy issues, such as feelings of unimportance, a lack of vision, exclusivity, limited resources, or unbalanced leadership, then its health is threatened and it may eventually die. But an unhealthy church can get well and experience vital physical and spiritual growth.
In The Healthy Church, Dennis Bickers diagnoses those things that can threaten the life of your church and prescribes practical remedies for treatment. He emphasizes that maintaining a healthy church means preventing problems from developing by first recognizing their symptoms and then acting accordingly.
Become a healthy church that:
*Has a positive self-image
*Shares a common vision that creates a sense of purpose and unity
*Maintains community while still warmly welcoming new visitors
*Practices the importance of faithful stewardship and financial support
*Understands ministry to be the responsibility of all the members of the church
*Encourages everyone to serve according to his or her spiritual gifts-not by seniority or guilt. -
Deeper Joy : Lay Women And Vocation In The 20th Century Episcopal Church
$35.95Add to cart“An ambitious and much-needed effort to gather the key episodes and stories that highlight the important roles and vocations of lay women in both the 20th century church and the larger society. “Deeper Joy” not only chronicles the often unappreicated and undervalued past, but also points to the future of vital leadership and service.” – The Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris
Throughout the 20th century lay women in the Episcopal Church, often acting in isolation and without institutional support, offered a powerful witness of leadership, vocation, and theological resilience. Deeper Joy studies groups of women with similar callings yet located in diverse settings throughout church and society such as schools, hospitals, and other civic institutions. The topics presented here reflect new historical perspectives and unexplored primary materials, including interviews that bear on all women’s ministries, hence addressing neglected and important aspects of life in the American church.
After an introductory chapter on women and vocation, five major sections will explore lay women’s vocations through the lenses of community life, education, mission, civic life, and working for change from within the Episcopal Church. Topics include Anglican sisterhoods, the Companions of the Holy Cross, the deaconess movement, women of the New Deal, women in foreign missions, the settlement house movement, and women in education. The views of African-American, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American women are all represented. A concluding chapter addresses future directions for leadership and service.
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Church Safety And Security
$14.95Add to cart(with John M. Edie, Dennis K. Lewis, Edward L. Spain & Donna M. Washburn)
The church has always been regarded as a safe haven – a spiritual sanctuary where people can come to worship God free from worries about violence or unethical behavior by those involved in church ministry. But our culture is changing, and church leaders can no longer assume that “it won’t happen in my church.” Like the rest of society, churches need to ensure the safety and security of their facility, staff, and worshipers.
This book provides a wealth of practical information on preparing for and responding to the challenges of a dangerous world. Robert Cirtin draws on more than two decades of law enforcement and investigative experience, and with his team of professionals outlines a “how-to” approach full of specific proactive steps churches can take to protect themselves and reduce the risk of costly lawsuits. Church Safety And Security is a must-have resource for anyone participating in or preparing for church leadership.
Topics covered include:
? Utilizing background screening to protect your congregation
? Safety and security issues for church-run preschool and day care programs
? Preparing for and responding to medical emergencies
? How to deal with issues pertaining to child abuse
? Legally mandated responsibilities of church staff members
? How to utilize security/surveillance cameras in the church facility
? Organizing a church security officer program
? Effectively coping with intruders
? Responding to violent acts when they occur
? How to conduct a thorough investigation -
Israel And The Church
$32.00Add to cartModern Israel and its relations with its Arab neighbors has been conspicuously in the daily news ever since World War II. Until that time, the concept of Israel and a continuing Jewish people had been hovering in the distant background of Christian thought and doctrine since the post-apostolic era. In this important work, Dr. Diprose demonstrates the uniqueness of Israel and its special place in the divine plan.
By carefully reviewing relevant New Testament and post-apostolic writings, the author traces the origin and development of Replacement Theology-the concept that the Church has completely and permanently replaced ethnic Israel in the outworking of God’s plan throughout history-challenging its origin and role in the development of Christian thought on the future of ethnic Israel.
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World Calling : The Churchs Witness In Politics And Society
$30.00Add to cartThomas Ogletree has devoted much of his career to exploring the significance of Ernst Troeltsch’s seminal work, The Social Teaching of the Christian Churches. The articles in The World Calling use a Troeltschian lens to explore fundamental issues underlying any Christian social witness in the context of American democratic institutions.
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Proverbs : Believers Church Bible Commentary
$34.99Add to cartThe nineteenth volume in the Believers Church Bible Commentary series is unique for its detailed uncovering of evidence for two editions of Proverbs, a first in the time of Solomon and a second in support of King Hezekiah’s historic religious reforms. In this light heretofore puzzling features of the book’s design, purpose and message are clarified and the book’s relevance for its time and ours is greatly enhanced. This readable commentary is for all who seek more fully to understand the original message of Scripture and its meaning for today – Sunday school teachers, members of Bible study groups, students, pastors, and other seekers.
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Many Faces One Church
$104.00Add to cartPreface
Mark Stelzer
Introduction: The New Faces Of The American Catholic Church
Peter C. Phan
A New Ecclesial Reality And A New Way Of Doing Theology: Heralding A Pentecost
Mark Stelzer
Thinking About The Church: The Gift Of Cultural Diversity To Theology
Kevin F. Burke
Black Catholics In The United States: A Subversive Memory
Diana Hayes
Reflecting On America As A Single Entity: Catholicism And U.S. Latinos
Roberto S. Goizueta
Devotion To Our Lady Of Guadalupe Among Mexican Americans
Jeanette Rodriguez
“Presence And Prominence In The Lord’s House”: Asians And Pacific People In The American Catholic Church
Peter C. Phan
Understanding Church And Theology In The Caribbean Today
Gerald Boodoo
BibliographyAbout The Contributors
Additional Info
Many Faces, One Church: Cultural Diversity and the American Catholic Experience both captures and facilitates a seismic shift in the who, what, where, when, why, and how of Catholic theology today. Along with a diverse group of theologians who represent the many faces of the church, editors Peter C. Phan and Diana Hayes recast the story of the church in America by including immigrant groups either forgotten or ignored and, in light of these new and not-so-new voices, retooling the theological framework of Catholicism itself.That the American Catholic Church is an “immigrant church” is not news. What is news, however, is how diverse the immigrant church really is and how much work there is to be done to include their voices in theological discourse and training. Beyond the German and Irish immigrants, what of other European immigrant groups such as the Italians, Poles, Lithuanians, Czechs, Slovaks, and Eastern-rite Catholics? Where are the stories of the older presence of native Mexican, Native American, and African-American Catholics in this country? And more recently, of Asian-American Catholics, especially the Chinese, the Japanese, and the Filipinos, of the nineteenth and early twentieth century? And more recently still, Catholic immigrants have come from El Salvador, Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, India, and the Pacific Islands. What impact are these immigrants having on American society and religious groups?
Many Faces, One Church is a profound attempt to address these key questions and their implications for the Catholic way of being church, worshipping, and practicing theology. The result of three years of conferences sponsored by Elms College exploring the “new faces” of the American Catholic Church, this thoughtful collection highlights opportunities and challenges lying ahead as the American Church tries to respond to the continuing presence of new immigrants in its midst. Many Faces, One Church is a beginning of a long but exciting journey in which the strangers welcomed today into the bosom of the American Catholic Church will be themselves the hosts to welcome, with equal warmth and generosity, the new strangers into their midst so that hosts and guests are truly one.
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Many Faces One Church
$34.00Add to cartPreface
Mark Stelzer
Introduction: The New Faces Of The American Catholic Church
Peter C. Phan
A New Ecclesial Reality And A New Way Of Doing Theology: Heralding A Pentecost
Mark Stelzer
Thinking About The Church: The Gift Of Cultural Diversity To Theology
Kevin F. Burke
Black Catholics In The United States: A Subversive Memory
Diana Hayes
Reflecting On America As A Single Entity: Catholicism And U.S. Latinos
Roberto S. Goizueta
Devotion To Our Lady Of Guadalupe Among Mexican Americans
Jeanette Rodriguez
“Presence And Prominence In The Lord’s House”: Asians And Pacific People In The American Catholic Church
Peter C. Phan
Understanding Church And Theology In The Caribbean Today
Gerald Boodoo
BibliographyAbout The Contributors
Additional Info
Many Faces, One Church: Cultural Diversity and the American Catholic Experience both captures and facilitates a seismic shift in the who, what, where, when, why, and how of Catholic theology today. Along with a diverse group of theologians who represent the many faces of the church, editors Peter C. Phan and Diana Hayes recast the story of the church in America by including immigrant groups either forgotten or ignored and, in light of these new and not-so-new voices, retooling the theological framework of Catholicism itself.That the American Catholic Church is an “immigrant church” is not news. What is news, however, is how diverse the immigrant church really is and how much work there is to be done to include their voices in theological discourse and training. Beyond the German and Irish immigrants, what of other European immigrant groups such as the Italians, Poles, Lithuanians, Czechs, Slovaks, and Eastern-rite Catholics? Where are the stories of the older presence of native Mexican, Native American, and African-American Catholics in this country? And more recently, of Asian-American Catholics, especially the Chinese, the Japanese, and the Filipinos, of the nineteenth and early twentieth century? And more recently still, Catholic immigrants have come from El Salvador, Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, India, and the Pacific Islands. What impact are these immigrants having on American society and religious groups?
Many Faces, One Church is a profound attempt to address these key questions and their implications for the Catholic way of being church, worshipping, and practicing theology. The result of three years of conferences sponsored by Elms College exploring the “new faces” of the American Catholic Church, this thoughtful collection highlights opportunities and challenges lying ahead as the American Church tries to respond to the continuing presence of new immigrants in its midst. Many Faces, One Church is a beginning of a long but exciting journey in which the strangers welcomed today into the bosom of the American Catholic Church will be themselves the hosts to welcome, with equal warmth and generosity, the new strangers into their midst so that hosts and guests are truly one.
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Evaluating The Church Growth Movement
$26.99Add to cart“The church growth movement (CGM) has stirred debate ever since it was first introduced by Donald McGavran in the 1960s. By the 1980s it attracted enough attention to merit the publication of around 580 church growth books. Many churches experienced significant growth applying these principles. But during the 1990s critics questioned the movement and its theological underpinnings. Nevertheless, interest in the movement continues in the 21st century. It’s a movement that can’t be ignored. This Counterpoints Church Life book presents five viewpoints on the CGM from national church leaders from a diverse denominational, theological, and geographical representation. The five perspectives include: * Effective evangelism view: Church growth effectively confronts the culture (Elmer Towns) * Gospel in our culture view: Church growth does not effectively engage the culture (Craig Van Gelder) * Centrist view: Church growth has been culturally insightful but theologically superficial (Charles Van Engen) * Reformist view: Church growth has not developed a balanced intertwining of theological reflection, cultural analysis, historical perspective, and practical strategy (Gailyn Van Rheenan) * Renewal view: Church growth must come from the inside out being a community of faith focusing on kingdom issues (Howard Snyder) Not only do the five main contributors respond to each other’s positions, but another chapter gives the responses and views of three nationally known pastors for whom church growth is not an academic discipline but a matter of hands-on daily involvement. The book intends to make a valuable contribution to the church by bringing together conflicting views so all perspectives are heard and readers can make their own informed conclusions. The book’s introduction by Gary McIntosh shows why this is a movement that can’t be ignored. He gives a helpful brief overview of the history of this movement that celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2005. Each chapter includes discussion questions enabling readers to use this book in small group and classroom settings.”
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Work Of The Church Trustee
$15.99Add to cart1. Who Make The Best Trustees?
2. It’s A Big Job
3. Your Board Should Be The Best
4. The Money In Your Hand
5. Buried Treasure For The Kingdom
6. Working With The Professional Team
7. Trustees In A Changing World
8. You Learn Through Others
9. Trustees Are Ministers, Too
AppendixesAdditional Info
There is more to serving as a trustee than counting money or arranging to repair the church plumbing! Beginning with the biblical and theological basis of service, Orlando Tibbetts has prepared a very comprehensive guide to deepen and broaden the trustee’s sense of ministry and mission in his/her service to the church. An excellent tool for new or experienced board members, this book covers every facet of the trustee’s responsibility as a steward of the community’s concerns and as a servant of the Lord. It is both practical and inspiring. -
Untold Story Of The New Testament Church
$15.99Add to cartA scholar of the New Testament Church and a forerunner of modern church renewal, Frank Viola casts his gaze back at the birth pangs of first century Christianity in this book. Using a “you-are-there” approach, this epic volume gives readers a first-hand account of how the witness of Christ’s testimony impacted the world. In the era right after the Day of Pentecost, the power of Holy Spirit prompted a massive harvest of souls yet a great persecution surged against those preaching Good News to the lost. Now, get up-close with apostles Paul, Peter, and John and learn of their personal struggles to fight for the faith amidst a backdrop of in-house strife and foreign tyranny
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Temple And The Churchs Mission
$35.00Add to cartSeries Preface
Author’s Preface
Preface By Mary Dorinda Beale
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
2. Cosmic Symbolism Of Temples In The Old Testament
3. The Expanding Purpose Of Temples In The Old Testament
4. The Expanding End-Time Purpose Of Temples In The Old Testament
5. The “Already And Not Yet” Fulfillment Of The End-Time Temple In Christ And His People: The Gospels
6. The Inauguration Of A New Temple In The Book Of Acts
7. The Inauguration Of A New Temple In The Epistles Of Paul
8. The Temple In 2 Thessalonians 2
9. The Inauguration Of A New Temple In Hebrews
10. The World-Encompassing Temple In Revelation
11. The Temple In Ezekiel 40–48 And Its Relationship To The New Testament
12. Theological Conclusions: The Physical Temple As A Foreshadowing Of God’s And Christ’s Presence As The True Temple
13. Practical Reflections On Eden And The Temple For The Church In The Twenty-first Century
Bibliography
Index Of Modern Authors
Index Of Biblical References
Index Of Ancient SourcesAdditional Info
In this comprehensive study, G.K. Beale argues that the Old Testament tabernacle and temples were symbolically designed to point to the end-time reality that God’s presence, formerly limited to the Holy of Holies, would be extended throughout the cosmos. Hence, John’s vision in Revelation 21 is best understood as picturing the new heavens and earth as the eschatological temple. Beal’s stimulating exposition traces the theme of the tabernacle and temple across the Bible’s story line, illuminating many texts and closely related themes along the way. He shows how the significance and symbolism of the temple can be better understood in the context of ancient Near Eastern assumptions, and offers new insights into the meaning of the temple in both Old and New Testaments. -
Letters To A Diminished Church
$18.99Add to cart“The devil should stand alert, for Sayers is one of his foremost adversaries,”—Living Church. An outspoken defender of Christian orthodoxy, Sayers elucidates creedal Christianity with brilliance and wit. Pieces include “The Dogma is the Drama,” “What Do We Believe?” and “Strong Meat.”
