OUR GIFTING ECLIPSE: Christian Essays


Book Description

This book reflects my pondering the basic tenets of Christianity, such as the Trinity and the value of Scripture, in forming a more viable Christian faith in the 21st Century. It asks big questions about God and Jesus Christ, about the tense relationship between Christianity and Judaism, about how we better bolster and maintain our faith as well as about miracles and the many people indifferent to God at all. This book is particularly for those who have left the Church and need guidance without its structure and habits with which we are all familiar. It is for those forging your own faith and needing more than Scripture alone. It is for those interested in the divine realm of spirituality beyond what Scripture generally describes. This book is purposely designed to take you somewhere else than you have likely considered before. It may well change your life.




Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome


Book Description

Every year thousands of God's servants leave the ministry convinced they are failures. Years ago, in the midst of a crisis of faith, Kent Hughes almost became one of them. But instead he and his wife Barbara turned to God's Word, determined to learn what God had to say about success and to evaluate their ministry from a biblical point of view. This book describes their journey and their liberation from the "success syndrome"-the misguided belief that success in ministry means increased numbers. In today's world it is easy to be seduced by the secular thinking that places a number on everything. But the authors teach that true success in ministry lies not in numbers but in several key areas: faithfulness, serving, loving, believing, prayer, holiness, and a Christlike attitude. Their thoughts will encourage readers who grapple with feelings of failure and lead them to a deeper, fuller understanding of success in Christian ministry. This book was originally published by Tyndale in 1987 and includes a new preface.




Religious Giving


Book Description

Religious Giving considers the connection between religion and giving within the Abrahamic traditions. Each contributor begins with the assumption that there is something inherently right or natural about the connection. But what exactly is it? To whom should we give, how much should we give, what is the relationship between our giving and our relationship to God? Writing for the introspective donor, congregational leader, or student interested in ways of meeting human needs, the authors focus on the philosophical or theological dimensions of giving. The contributors' goal is not to report on institutional practices, but to provide thoughtful, constructive guidance to the reader -- informed by a critical understanding of the religious traditions under review.




All Shall Be Well


Book Description

In this beautiful and broken world, God is here. The heavens declare the glory of God . . . but are we listening? Yes, God created this world, but sometimes we forget that he hasn’t left—that his redemptive, creative work happens still today, right here under our feet. So when we seek for God and study his truth, how much are we missing if we don’t awaken to all he has placed in the soil and sky? God made this world of light and darkness, summer and winter, life and death. What does he intend to teach us in these ever-repeating cycles and seasons? Seamlessly weaving biblical truths into everyday life, Catherine McNiel will help you discover an unbelievable reality: God meets and transforms you in the mess and abundance of every mundane moment.










Things Not Seen


Book Description

True faith is hard. More than mere sentimentalism, faith often calls for a deep and resilient trust in God—especially when the going gets tough and the road is dark. In Things Not Seen, author Jon Bloom encourages readers with 35 imaginative retellings of stories from the Bible that illustrate the importance of living by faith. A follow-up to the author's previous book, Not by Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith, this inspiring volume explores the lives of Abraham, Moses, Saul, John the Baptist, and more—helping readers remember God's promises, rely on his grace, and follow his leading regardless of the circumstances. The book includes a foreword by popular author and blogger Ann Voskamp.




Not by Sight


Book Description

Trusting Jesus is hard. It requires following the unseen into an unknown, and believing Jesus's words over and against the threats we see or the fears we feel. Through the imaginative retelling of 35 Bible stories, Not by Sight gives us glimpses of what it means to walk by faith and counsel for how to trust God's promises more than our perceptions and to find rest in the faithfulness of God.




Discover Your Spiritual Gifts


Book Description

Which of God's gifts has your name on it? When you become a follower of Christ, you receive gifts from the Holy Spirit. How can you know for certain which gifts you have? And once you do know, how should you use your gifts to best serve God? Discover Your Spiritual Gifts gives you life-changing answers to these questions and more. In this trusted study, you will be introduced to the 28 biblical gifts, learn the definition and history of each one and examine biblical and modern-day examples of people who share those gifts. By using the included questionnaire, you will be able to identify your specific gifts and find ways to use them in a community of faith. This edition contains a new Bible study for personal reflection or for use in a small-group setting that will help you explore in greater detail each of the gifts that Dr. Wagner discusses.




Friends' Review


Book Description