Following Jesus in Turbulent Times


Book Description

Nations are haemorrhaging refugees around the world. How displaced peoples are treated is under constant scrutiny– whether in the UK, the USA, and Australia, or Turkey, Colombia, and Uganda. How will the Church respond in these turbulent times? Resurrection Church Beirut in Lebanon was a small church of around one hundred people who then welcomed refugees from Middle Eastern countries, sacrificially served those in need in their community and saw the kingdom of God come. Through Pastor Hikmat’s leadership over the last decade, Resurrection Church has grown to over two thousand believers and the emphasis he brought on disciple-making has resulted in the church currently having two hundred and seventy life groups. Using his church’s powerful testimony, Pastor Hikmat Kashouh teaches us how to disciple refugees from Arab contexts. Jesus is drawing more and more people to himself in the Middle East through the ministry of churches like Resurrection Church in Lebanon, and through miraculous divine visitations of God. In this book the church has a resource to help love, serve and disciple refugees, equip emerging indigenous leaders and understand discipleship of people from non-Christian backgrounds.




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.




Resilient


Book Description

Reclaim your joy and thrive through the storms of life when you find your strength in God. The human soul has a built-in yearning for joy and beauty and all good things. But that craving for life is so easily lost in the pace and demands of modern life. Join New York Times bestselling author John Eldredge as he gives you the tools you need to follow Jesus' path of supernatural resilience. Between false promises of ease and comfort on one side and the sheer busyness and stress of daily life on the other, people today are facing a shortage of peace, happiness, and strength. In Resilient, Eldredge reveals a path toward genuine recovery and resilience through Jesus himself. Drawing on wisdom from Scripture and Christian tradition, and illustrated throughout with powerful, true stories of grit and survival, Resilient will help you: Tap into the river of life that God promises his people Learn to be patient with yourself--genuine recovery from spiritual and emotional trauma takes time and intentionality Create a plan to foster resilience in your day-to-day life Discover deep wells of freedom and strength through Christ who lives within us Thriving requires a resilient soul. This book will help you find the resilience you long for when the world has gone mad--and discover in Jesus himself the strength that prevails.




Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear


Book Description

Fear has taken on an outsized role in our current cultural and political context. Manufactured threats are advanced with little to no evidence of danger, while real threats are exaggerated for self-interested gain. This steady diet of fear produces unhealthy moral lives, leading many Christians to focus more on the dangers we wish to avoid than the goods we wish to pursue. As a fearful people, we are tempted to make safety our highest good and to make virtues of suspicion, preemption, and accumulation. But this leaves the church ill-equipped to welcome the stranger, love the enemy, or give to those in need. This timely resource brings together cultural analysis and theological insight to explore a Christian response to the culture of fear. Laying out a path from fear to faithfulness, theologian Scott Bader-Saye explores practices that embody Jesus's call to place our trust in him, inviting Christian communities to take the risks of hospitality, peacemaking, and generosity. This book has been revised throughout, updated to connect with today's readers, and includes new discussion questions.




A Faith of Our Own


Book Description

Every day, major headlines tell the story of how Christianity is attempting to influence American culture and politics. But statistics show that young Americans are disenchanted with a faith that has become culturally antagonistic and too closely aligned with partisan politics. In this personal yet practical work, Jonathan Merritt uncovers the changing face of American Christianity by uniquely examining the coming of age of a new generation of Christians. Jonathan Merritt illuminates the spiritual ethos of this new generation of believers who engage the world with Christ-centered faith but an un-polarized political perspective. Through personal stories and biblically rooted commentary this scion of a leading evangelical family takes a close, thoughtful look at the changing religious and political environment, addressing such divisive issues as abortion, gay marriage, environmental use and care, race, war, poverty, and the imbalance of world wealth. Through Scripture, the examples of Jesus, and personal defining faith experiences, he distills the essential truths at the core of a Christian faith that is now just coming of age.




Out of the Storm and into God’s Arms


Book Description

What do you do when the storm clouds of life surround you—and you can’t see the silver lining? Where do you turn when God feels distant? Exploring truths from the book of Job, Jill Briscoe addresses the tough issues involved in the collision of affliction and faith.




Living by Faith in Turbulent Times


Book Description

How are we to live in these turbulent days? What will it look like to navigate the present crisis and its aftermath as followers of Jesus Christ? Living by Faith in Turbulent Times tackles these timely questions by taking us deep into the Bible's most famous passage on the nature of authentic faith, Hebrews 11. As we look to God's never-changing word for guidance and help for today, we find rich encouragement from key models of faith-men and women who walked with God and trusted his promises through fearful and challenging days. This new resource will not only strengthen followers of Jesus to walk by faith, but introduce others to the God who can be trusted in turbulent times.




God Will Carry You Through


Book Description

New York Times bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado has discovered that at any given point, almost everyone is dealing with something difficult. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, marriage issues, illness, job loss, or the stress of everyday life, you need the assurance that God will be there for you during tough times. In God Will Carry You Through, Max teaches through the life of Joseph in his no-fluff, casual storytelling style, inviting you to let God’s words guide you through loss and uncertainty. Laced throughout are: Real stories about everyday people facing struggles Thoughtful quotes Scripture passages for meditation Through decades of betrayal, abandonment, and false accusations, Joseph never gave up on God or His purpose. And Max assures you that, like Joseph, you'll get through this. It won't be painless; it won't be quick, but God Will use this mess for good. This beautiful book makes a comforting gift for people dealing with: Health issues Separation and divorce Depression or anxiety Job loss Any difficult time The inspirational chapters will bring you peace and reassurance about whatever challenge you face. After all, says Max, "Good days. Bad days. God is in all days."




She Who Shows the Way


Book Description

Our Mother knows when we most need her, and we need her now. We are living in the end times, not the end of the world, but the end of an age. Those who wish to remain faithful to the Gospel are seeking heaven's guidance in order to weather the unparalleled storms ahead. In this extraordinary and anointed book of messages from Mother Mary and occasionally, Jesus, through authentic inner-locutions to one of her most unlikely children, she has responded. Read these detailed and encouraging words that you might understand and safely navigate our times: "A great turning point in the fate of your nation and its faith in God will soon be upon you, and I ask you all to pray and offer your sufferings for this cause. . ." -Our Lady's message of August 4, 1993




"Here Are Your Gods"


Book Description

Christians desperately need to name and expose the modern-day false gods of prosperity, nationalism, and self-interest. Combining a biblical study of idolatry with practical discipleship, Old Testament scholar Christopher J. H. Wright calls readers to fight the temptation of idolatry as we consider connections between Old Testament patterns and today's culture.