The Christian life is not fundamentally about being a moral person, obeying a set of principles, or doing spiritual disciplines. The Christian life is about opening our heart to a relationship with the living God. As we depend on the indwelling Spirit and experience abiding in Christ, we will learn an obedience that comes without the burden of guilt and shame.
Why, when, and how should a church add to its professional staff? Staff Your Church for Growth: Building Team Ministry in the 21st Century is a practical manual dealing with the issues of hiring and utilizing multiple staff positions to encourage church growth. Current data show that half of all churches have some form of multiple staff, and many others are considering the addition of professional staff in the future. Gary L. McIntosh has written a comprehensive manual for the twenty-first-century church, focusing on how, why, who, and when to add staff in a way that encourages growth.
The world is broken– more so than we know. But for those who know that Christ is coming to establish a new and perfect order, ours is not just a world to endure but a world to invade. Believers have not been stationed here on earth merely to subsist but to actively subvert the enemy’s attempts at blinding people in unbelief and burying them under heartbreaking loads of human need. The kingdom of God changes all that.
The world is broken– more so than we know. But for those who know that Christ is coming to establish a new and perfect order, ours is not just a world to endure but a world to invade. Believers have not been stationed here on earth merely to subsist but to actively subvert the enemy’s attempts at blinding people in unbelief and burying them under heartbreaking loads of human need. The kingdom of God changes all that.
Supervising and Supporting Ministry Staff is a research-based guide to the senior/associate staff relationship that is filled with real-life stories and practical advice to help readers negotiate their staff relationships successfully. The book focuses not only on the business mechanics of the supervisor/supervisee relationship, but also the full experiences of the associate staff, including emotional and spiritual needs. This helpful resource addresses congregations of all sizes across denominations and discusses a range or supervisor/supervisee relationship types.
In the gospels, Jesus used parables to teach transformative lessons and convey deep spiritual truths about the kingdom of God. But he often used them to confront and challenge his audience as well, forcing them to open or close their hearts to the kingdom. Jesus understood the power of stories, but there are some things lost in translation when we try to interpret those same stories thousands of years removed from their original context. The unexpected twists and surprises in the parables might be missed by a modern audience because they’re unfamiliar with the underlying points of reference. In Surprised by the Parables, Michelle Lee Barnewall explores the ancient context these parables drew from. These stories of grace reveal many of the mysteries central to God’s character, and understanding the ancient world behind them will help us see the parables from a new perspective.
This workbook accompanies the second edition of Wayne Grudem’s highly regarded Systematic Theology. Following the textbook’s structure, it features review material and exercises for every chapter, and all major areas of Christian doctrine are covered. The workbook further maintains the clear writing, friendly tone, and frequent applications to life found in the textbook. Students will benefit from this hands-on engagement with the important teachings in Systematic Theology.
In the Tactics video Bible study, master apologist Gregory Koukl introduces viewers to effective ways to defend their Christian faith in conversations with friends, coworkers, and family members. This eight-session provides a game plan for communicating the compelling truth about Christianity with confidence and grace. The study guide includes video notes, discussion questions, and personal study between sessions.
In the Tactics video Bible study, master apologist Gregory Koukl introduces viewers to effective ways to defend their Christian faith in conversations with friends, coworkers, and family members. This eight-session provides a game plan for communicating the compelling truth about Christianity with confidence and grace. Designed for use with the Tactics Study Guide, sold separately.
In a world increasingly indifferent to Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority. In Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition, Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to artfully regain control of conversations, keeping them moving forward in constructive ways through thoughtful diplomacy. This expanded anniversary edition includes updates and expansions of existing tactics, as well as the addition of an all-new tactic and a chapter on Mini Tactics filled with simple maneuvers to aid in discussions.
In a world increasingly indifferent to Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority. In Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition, Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to artfully regain control of conversations, keeping them moving forward in constructive ways through thoughtful diplomacy. This expanded anniversary edition includes updates and expansions of existing tactics, as well as the addition of an all-new tactic and a chapter on Mini Tactics filled with simple maneuvers to aid in discussions.
In a world increasingly indifferent to Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority. In Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition, Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to artfully regain control of conversations, keeping them moving forward in constructive ways through thoughtful diplomacy. This expanded anniversary edition includes updates and expansions of existing tactics, as well as the addition of an all-new tactic and a chapter on Mini Tactics filled with simple maneuvers to aid in discussions.
A Course Guide for Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions, when used with the accompanying book, workbook, and video lectures, provides everything you need to learn on your own and go deeper in understanding topics related to the Bible, theology, ministry, and more. This Course Guide maps your plan of study for you and provides materials to help you retain what you learn. These can include essay questions, quiz questions (with answer key provided), and more. You’ll be learning in no time.
All local churches experience a predictable life cycle of growth and decline. But if a church is on a downward trend, how can it turn around? Taking Your Church to the Next Level explains the impact of age and size on churches and outlines the improvements that must be made at each point for a church to remain fruitful and faithful to its mission. McIntosh deftly describes the cycles of fruitfulness and the importance of continual improvement to diminish destructive forces that keep a congregation from its mission. Church leaders, pastors, and all who care about the church and desire to see it experience biblical growth will benefit from the sage wisdom offered in these pages.
Why do the first generation still act like that? Why can’t we try some new ideas? Why are the second generation so lazy? Why are the second generation so disrespectful? Isn’t it a shame how the church is split between the two generations? These and many more questions reflect the tangled conflicts within the Asian American church. Cultural differences have led to many misunderstandings and conflicts. Conflicts have created bitterness and churches have split apart. How can these tangled threads be rewoven into a beautiful tapestry of God’s grace? What would it take for the Asian American church to reflect God’s grace? In Tapestry of Grace, Dr. Benjamin C. Shin and Dr. Sheryl Takagi Silzer apply their years of study and teaching to explain how the cultural complexities that occur between the different generations of the Asian American church can be untangled. Taking lessons from their own spiritual journeys, they show how each generation can experience the amazing grace of the Gospel.
McKinley explores and evaluates several models that have been developed of Christ’s impeccability and temptation. His pneumatological account maintains that Jesus was truly tempted in ways that are closely relevant to the temptations common to us. Thus Jesus provides true help as the credible example to follow and truly sympathetic ally in the fight against sin.
If most pastors were pressed to describe an average day of ministry, they’d have trouble doing it. In a single day, a pastor may fill many different roles in quick succession, from counselor to theologian to student to CEO to custodian (well, let’s hope there’s usually someone else available to perform that last role). Some roles come more naturally than others, but every pastor wants to perform each role to the best of their ability. In The 10 Key Roles of a Pastor, church consultant Gary L. McIntosh shows pastors how to understand and juggle their many essential roles, prioritize their time and energy, manage their people’s expectations of them, and empower others to take up the vital work of the church body
If most pastors were pressed to describe an average day of ministry, they’d have trouble doing it. In a single day, a pastor may fill many different roles in quick succession, from counselor to theologian to student to CEO to custodian (well, let’s hope there’s usually someone else available to perform that last role). Some roles come more naturally than others, but every pastor wants to perform each role to the best of their ability. In The 10 Key Roles of a Pastor, church consultant Gary L. McIntosh shows pastors how to understand and juggle their many essential roles, prioritize their time and energy, manage their people’s expectations of them, and empower others to take up the vital work of the church body
The Apologetics Study Bible helps today’s Christians better understand, defend, and proclaim their beliefs in this age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. More than one-hundred key questions and articles placed throughout the volume about faith and science prompt a rewarding study experience at every reading. Highlights of this thinking person’s edition of God’s Word include the full text of the popular HCSB translation, an introduction to each Bible book focusing on its inherent elements of apologetics, and profiles of historic Christian apologists from Justin Martyr to C.S. Lewis.
Who were the Apostolic Fathers? What did they care about? Why did they write what they wrote? The Apostolic Fathers: A Narrative Introduction is the most engaging introduction to Apostolic Fathers you will ever read. Imagine what it would be like to ask Polycarp about the documents that were composed during his lifetime. You don’t have to imagine any longer. Situated during the final week of Polycarp’s life, these fictional dialogues will introduce you to the earliest Christian documents after the time of the apostles. You will come to know Clement, Ignatius, Hermas, Papias, and others. Freshly translated excerpts from the writings themselves are included after each chapter.
