Church of the Small Things


Book Description

Is my ordinary, everyday life actually significant? Is it okay to be fulfilled by the simple acts of raising kids, working in an office, and cooking chicken for dinner? It’s been said, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.” The pressure of that can be staggering as we spend our days looking for that big thing that promises to take our breath away. Meanwhile, we lose sight of the small significance of fully living with every breath we take. Melanie Shankle, New York Times bestselling author and writer at The Big Mama Blog tackles these questions head on in her fourth book, Church of the Small Things. Easygoing and relatable, she speaks directly to the heart of women of all ages who are longing to find significance and meaning in the normal, sometimes mundane world of driving carpool to soccer practice, attending class on their college campus, cooking meals for their family, or taking care of a sick loved one. The million little pieces that make a life aren’t necessarily glamorous or far-reaching. But God uses some of the smallest, most ordinary acts of faithfulness—and sometimes they look a whole lot like packing lunch. Through humorous stories told in her signature style, full of Frito pie, best friends, the love of her Me-Ma and Pa-Pa, the unexpected grace that comes when we quit trying to measure up, and a little of the best TV has to offer, Melanie helps women embrace what it means to live a simple, yet incredibly meaningful life and how to find all the beauty and laughter that lies right beneath the surface of every moment.




Church of the Small Things Study Guide with DVD


Book Description

It doesn't matter how old we are or what kind of work we do, we've all wondered at times, "Does my life really matter?" Do the everyday events and messy moments make any kind of difference? Is it okay to be fulfilled by the simple acts of raising kids, working in an office, and cooking chicken for dinner? This six-session video Bible study with bestselling author and popular blogger Melanie Shankle speaks directly to the heart of women of all ages who are longing to find significance and meaning in the normal, everyday world of attending class on their college campus, driving carpool to soccer practice, cooking a meal for their family, taking care of a sick loved one, or a million other things. Melanie offers women the opportunity to embrace what it means to live an abundant and incredibly meaningful life finding beauty and laughter in all the small things right beneath the surface of every moment. This study is full of relatable Bible teaching and includes video notes, group discussion questions, partnered or individual activities, and between-session personal studies. Sessions include: Being Faithful in the Small Things Created for a Reason A Word Fitly Spoken Broken Pieces Investing in Friendships Bigger than You Imagine This pack contains one study guide and one DVD.




You'll Get Through This


Book Description

We all fear that the depression will never lift, the disappointment will never stop, the pain will never leave. Here in the pits, surrounded by steep walls, we wonder if our gray skies will ever brighten. Though these unprecedented and challenging times may bring a load of uncertainty and fear that feels too heavy to bear, God gives us this promise: You'll Get Through This. In You'll Get Through This, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado traces the story of Joseph as told in the book of Genesis. The Bible tells us that Joseph was tossed into a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned, forgotten and dismissed. Yet Joseph's story is proof that we can flourish even in this broken world. On his darkest days, Joseph may have thought that the sun would never shine again, but God ultimately used these hardships for a greater purpose. Whether you find yourself in the pit of financial downturn, job loss, health crisis, or relationship stresses, God has a plan and a path forward designed just for you. Max reminds readers God doesn't promise that getting through trials will be quick or painless, but he does use our mess for good. In this book, Max will help you: Find comfort in the knowledge that you are God's child and God cares deeply for you Remember that God is near you and has never left you Look for hope in each hardship that you face Lean on your loving community in challenging times Take courage that God will restore even the most painful circumstances and use them for good Each copy of You'll Get Through This includes thoughtful questions for reflection designed to give you a chance to dive deeper into the hard yet hopeful story of Joseph's perseverance. With the compassion of a pastor, the heart of a storyteller, and the joy of one who has seen what God can do, Max explores the story of Joseph and the truth of Genesis 50:20: what Satan intends for evil, God redeems for good.




All In Bible Study Guide


Book Description

When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous. The will of God is not an insurance plan; it’s a daring plan. It’s time to quit living as if the purpose of your life is to arrive safely at death. All In, a four-session video-based Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately) by New York Times bestselling author Mark Batterson, challenges participants to resolutely follow God wherever he leads by pointing out that if Jesus is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all. Most people think they are following Jesus. They may think they are following Jesus, but the reality is, they’ve invited Jesus to follow them. They call him Savior, but they’ve never surrendered to him as Lord. Are you following Jesus? Or have you invited Jesus to follow you? Participants will find Batterson’s teaching filled with his customary vivid, contemporary stories as well as biblical characters like Shamgar, Elisha, Jonathan, and Judas. It’s time to go all in for God. Sessions include: Now or Never: Pack Your Coffin All In: Charge! All Out: Rim Huggers All in All: Burn the Ships Designed for use with All In Video Study 9780310333104 (sold separately).




Truly Free


Book Description

In Truly Free best-selling author Robert Morris invites us into a glorious truth—that the promise of being set free from the slavery of sin is a promise to be set free completely. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). As believers, we have Christ and never need to be afraid. Yet it’s also true that we are not immune to the effects of evil. Christ has conquered sin and death, but in his infinite wisdom—for reasons that are often difficult for us to understand—evil is still permitted to exist. Even if we’re saved and trust in Christ, we may still find areas in which we just can’t get victory. Maybe it’s a sin we’ve confessed again and again or a constant struggle with depression, anger, or lust. These long-imbedded patterns of shameful living continue to entangle us day after day, month after month, and even year after year. Although evil is real and Christians can be oppressed by it, we have the promise that the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Jesus saves us, trains us to resist the power of evil, and delivers us from anything that holds us back. With Jesus, we can be truly free forever.




Love Does Bible Study Guide


Book Description

Love isn't a feeling. It's an activity. It's something you do. And participating in the act of love is the secret to understanding God's love--the secret to a life well lived. Building on the foundation of the New York Times bestseller, Love Does, the Love Does video study (DVD/digital video sold separately) is a case study in love done--a love that's practical, functional, active. Not a "love" that has all the right answers. Not a "love" with ulterior motives. Not a "love" that's all talk or paralyzed by doubt. But a radically alive love that's an intentional participation in God's world. How is that kind of love done? The how is what this study is about. Real growth happens when you learn how to tap into the empowering, energizing love of God. Using it fills you. Risking it secures you. Giving it satisfies you. Each of the five sessions in the Love Does video study explores a different aspect of God's active love through Bob Goff's teachings and stories: I'm With You - we've been given the invitation to love. Taking it seriously is where life meets faith. Free to Fail - exploring the nature of failure, how it works, and what God does with it. Audacious Love - understanding why receiving love is essential to giving love. Be Not Afraid - chasing out the anxieties that keep us from acting and living the life that Jesus has called us to. Follow Me - delving into how to bring our passions and plans together and bind them to God's plan. This study guide provides teaching notes, discussion questions, Bible study, between-session activities and a practical application called "Putting Love into Action," which gives you the opportunity to put the principles you have learned into real-life practice. It's time to step off the ledge and fall into God's immeasurable love. Designed for use with the Love Does Video Study (9781400206292), sold separately.




The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi


Book Description

An instant New York Times bestseller! Journey with Kathie Lee Gifford and Messianic Rabbi Jason Sobel into Israel and explore the deep roots of the Christian faith. As a lifelong student of Scripture, Kathie Lee Gifford has always desired a deeper understanding of God’s Word and a deeper knowledge of God Himself. But it wasn’t until she began studying the biblical texts in their original Hebrew and Greek—along with actually hiking the ancient paths of Israel—that she found the fulfillment of those desires. Now you can walk with Kathie on a journey through the spiritual foundations of her faith: The Rock (Jesus Christ): Hear directly from Kathie about her life-changing and ever-deepening connection with Jesus, the Lover of her soul. The Road (Israel): Explore dozens of ancient landmarks and historical sites from Israel, the promised land of God’s covenant. The Rabbi (God’s Word): Go beyond a Sunday-school approach to the Bible by digging into the original languages and deeper meanings of the Holy Scriptures. As you journey through The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi, you’ll also find additional content from Messianic Rabbi Jason Sobel throughout the book. Jason’s insight into the Hebrew language, culture, and heritage will open your eyes to the Bible like never before. Begin your journey toward a deeper faith through The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi.




The Emotionally Healthy Woman


Book Description

Part of the bestselling Emotionally Healthy Spirituality book collection, The Emotionally Healthy Woman provides women a way out of surface-level spirituality to genuine freedom in Christ. Geri Scazzero knew there was something desperately wrong with her life. She felt like a single parent raising her four young daughters alone. She finally told her husband, "I quit," and left the thriving church he pastored, beginning a journey that transformed her and her marriage for the better. This book is for every woman who thinks, "I can’t keep pretending everything is fine!" Geri speaks like a friend as she uses personal stories and biblical principles to help you find your way out of superficial spirituality and move to a deep, meaningful, lifechanging relationship with God. And the journey begins by quitting. Geri quit being afraid of what others think. She quit lying. She quit denying her anger and sadness. She quit living someone else's life. When you quit those things that are damaging to your soul or the souls of others, you are freed up to choose other ways of being and relating that are rooted in love and lead to life. When you quit for the right reasons, at the right time, and in the right way, you're on the path not only to emotional health, but also to the true purpose of your life. Check out the full line of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality books dedicated to many different key areas of life. Workbooks, study guides, curriculum, and Spanish editions are also available.




The New Testament You Never Knew Bible Study Guide


Book Description

Do you know the real story behind the New Testament? We all share a fascination for discovering ‘the rest of the story.’ We enjoy learning the behind-the-scenes facts about seemingly familiar events. In The New Testament You Never Knew, well-known Bible scholars N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird team up to take you on a tour of the explosive story behind the story of the New Testament. You will discover things you never knew about... The political upheaval of the day that made the nature of Jesus' coming so unexpected The underlying meanings behind Jesus' parables and miracles The Kingdom of God and why everything about it was so shocking The resurrection and why, despite repeated predictions, no one saw it coming The mission of the church and how it is more complex than we realize The transforming power of Jesus and how it can still turn the world upside down today Through reading the New Testament we continually discover that God indeed keeps his promises, but those promises don’t always look like what people expected. Especially when it comes to Jesus. So, come join the journey to discover why N.T. Wright calls the New Testament "one of the most explosive books ever written." The study guide (DVD/video streaming sold separately) includes teaching notes, discussion questions, Bible exploration, personal study and reflection materials, as well as interesting facts about the New Testament. Sessions include: The Books of the New Testament The World of Jesus and the Apostles The Life and Death of Jesus The Resurrection of Jesus The Ministry of the Apostle Paul The Early Christians and the Church The Mission of the Church The Creation of the New Testament Designed for use with The New Testament You Never Knew Video Study (9780310085287), sold separately.




The Reason for God


Book Description

In this six-session small group Bible study, The Reason for God, captures live and unscripted conversations between Tim Keller and a group of people to address their doubts and objections to Christianity. Pack includes one Discussion Guide and one DVD.