Author : Nik Ripken
Publisher : B&H Publishing Group
Page : 360 pages
File Size : 17,12 MB
Release : 2013
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 1433673088
An amazing story of a missionary couple's journey into the toughest places on earth is combined with stories about remarkable people of faith they encountered to challenge and inspire those curious about the sufficiency of God.
Author : Nik Ripken
Publisher : B&H Publishing Group
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 14,6 MB
Release : 2014-01-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 143368229X
Wise Sheep Among the Wolves All Christian disciples have one thing in common: as they carry the gospel across the ocean and across the street, persecution will become the norm for those who choose to follow Jesus. How believers respond in the face of persecution reveals everything about their level of faith and obedience. The Insanity of Obedience is a bold challenge to global discipleship. Nik Ripken exposes the danger of safe Christianity and calls readers to something greater. The Insanity of Obedience challenges Christians in the same, provocative way that Jesus did. This book dares you—and prepares you—to cross the street and the oceans with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Some of Jesus’ instructions sound uncomfortable and are potentially dangerous. We may be initially encouraged by His declaration, “I am sending you out.” But how are we to respond when He then tells us that He is sending us out “like sheep among wolves"? In light of the words of Jesus, how can modern day believers rest comfortably in the status quo? How can we embrace casual faith in light of the radical commands of Jesus which are anything but casual? Ripken brings decades of ministry experience in some of the most persecuted areas of the world to bear on our understanding of faith in Jesus. The Insanity of Obedience is a call to roll up your sleeves . . . and to follow and partner with Jesus in the toughest places on this planet. "We have the high privilege of answering Jesus’ call to go," Ripken says. "But let us be clear about this: we go on His terms, not ours. If we go at all, we go as sheep among wolves." Jesus gives us Himself. And He gives us the tools necessary for those who dare to journey with Him.
Author : Nik Ripken
Publisher : B&H Publishing Group
Page : 202 pages
File Size : 11,9 MB
Release : 2019-10-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 1535951192
Bestselling author Nik Ripken, mentored by believers in persecution, offers a 90-day devotional to help you align your heart with God's, seeing the role sacrifice plays in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ. Individuals and families will be challenged to embrace sacrifice as their daily offering to God. It is through offering ourselves that we mirror the nature of the Father who gave His only Son to be crucified, and the nature of the Son who gave His very life to save sinners. Through this book readers will discover that their sacrifice can lead others, across the street and across the oceans, to discover new resurrection life in Christ.
Author : James Andre Blunt
Publisher : Archway Publishing
Page : 108 pages
File Size : 42,91 MB
Release : 2019-01-04
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 1480871990
Humans have been suffering from an illusion, or self-deception for thousands of years. Ancient people experienced great fear, anxiety and discomfort from unexplained natural phenomena and from the hardships of a primitive life. To control these fears, they relied on defense mechanisms; with the unfortunate result, seen even today, of the widespread belief in an imaginary, supernatural being, known as God. The God Insanity will reveal this belief as an illusion—a mere by-product of ancient self-defense mechanisms intended to explain a confusing, mysterious world. Looking at the example of the Christian belief system, author James Andre Blunt uses critical thinking and logic to dismantle and disprove all of the laws and concepts of biblical Christianity, leaving no gray areas. In addition, we will discover that there is nothing remotely similar or consistent between the teachings of the Bible and the modern laws and sociocultural ethics of the United States. For too long we have been shackled to an unfounded belief system—one that has even been used to promote slavery and discrimination, among other unacceptable practices. Yet, with more knowledge about the world and its workings, and by critically examining the foundations of religious beliefs like Christianity, we can free ourselves from unconscious defense mechanisms and explore these timeless questions for ourselves.
Author : Nik Ripken
Publisher : Lifeway Church Resources
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 11,62 MB
Release : 2016-07
Category :
ISBN : 9781430055129
The Insanity of Obedience Bible Study Book includes small-group experiences for six sessions, weekly individual-study opportunities, applicable Scripture, "How to Use This Study," and tips for leading a group. How do we begin to walk and work with God, especially in dangerous places? Based on the documentary The Insanity of God, this Bible study presents missionary Nik Ripken sharing true stories of people who are suffering for the name of Jesus. This study is an invitation to open your heart, your mind, and your eyes to the realities of walking with Jesus in difficult places. Engage with Scripture and see what it means to be a true follower of Jesus, not just someone who believes certain truths. Discover the answers to key missiological and theological questions about living sacrificially for the cause of Christ. Believers play a significant role in God's divine purpose. Observe how Christians all over the world are not only surviving but also thriving in the midst of persecution. Session Content: 1) Nations This session deals with God's command to be on mission and our response to His command. The Bible is to be lived out in the present active tense. 2) Persecution This session explores faith in persecution and suffering. Is obedience on this level insane, especially in the midst of popular theology that encourages obedience leading to success and comfort? 3) Family This session deals with the spread of the gospel by addition and exponential growth. Faith grows in families and communities, from a single believer to small groups of believers to succeeding generations. 4) Growth This session deals with the dynamics of healthy growth. 5) Victory This session describes and celebrates the miracle of victorious living through an enduring faith--especially in hostile environments. 6) Church This session is a summary and personal call to action for individuals, groups, and churches to join God's mission--no matter how insane obedience may look. Why? Because Jesus is worth it. Features: - Clips from the feature documentary The Insanity of Obedience - Biblically rooted and gospel-centered - Firsthand accounts in the author's voice - Individual-study opportunities for ongoing spiritual growth - Six-week Bible Study Book with group and personal components - Step-by-step plans for six group sessions - Promotional content, including a promotional video for the Bible study - Social-media assets for the group leader Benefits: - Confront the misconception that church membership is the same as following Jesus. - See that the Bible's commands are nonnegotiable. - Break the grip of the seduction of comfort and ask Christians to face the question, Who is Jesus, and is He worth my life? - Put aside programs and practices to insert missional sacrifice and calling into the normal rhythms of church culture. - Give group members examples of ways to identify and respond to God's call on their lives. - Show believers how best to respond when persecution comes. - Demonstrate to groups that the bar of Christianity has become low in Western culture. - Reveal the Bible as nonnegotiable. - Lead believers to the conclusion that telling people about Jesus is normal Christianity. - Celebrate the miracle of victorious living. - Explore faith in persecution and suffering. - Provide a means to find courage from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. - Explore the dynamics of the personal call to action for individuals, groups, and churches to join God's mission.
Author : Max Davis
Publisher : Destiny Image Publishers
Page : 179 pages
File Size : 42,68 MB
Release : 2012-10-16
Category : Religion
ISBN : 0768488117
How Science and the Supernatural Changed My Life “One day one of my professors asked me if it was true that I was a Bible-believing Christian. When I answered yes, his polite, upbeat attitude instantly turned rude and arrogant. In front of my peers, he insulted my intelligence, belittled my faith, and discredited the Bible. To him there was absolutely no doubt that science and academia had shown the pure ‘insanity of such belief,’” writes author Max Davis. Written from his journalistic point of view, The Insanity of Unbelief is a result of the author’s 30-year walk from childlike belief, to skepticism, and finally deep, secure faith. The contents are based on his expert and thorough research of solid facts versus what many atheists, agnostics, and even some believers tout. Different from other apologetic books is the addition of true, documented, supernatural experiences and miracles making a compelling—and exciting—argument for the reality and power of God!
Author : Boyd C. Purcell, Ph.D.
Publisher : Createspace Independent Pub
Page : 222 pages
File Size : 17,8 MB
Release : 2012-09-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781478322382
Christianity Without Insanity: For Optimal Mental/Emotional/Physical Health, by Boyd C. Purcell, Ph.D., is about love-based vs. fear-based Christianity [includes a chapter on other major religions]. This book, per the subtitle, is based on the truth of holistic health inherent in psychopathology which Dr. Purcell has taught at a university graduate college. Dr. Lewis Whaley, an oncologist, endorsed this author's previous book, Spiritual Terrorism, with this statement. "As a physician, I can validate Dr. Purcell's understanding of psychopathology. The anxiety which religion, or any other factor, generates has the potential to depress the human immune system, affect every organ, and impair bodily functions." The apostle John captured the essence of the dynamics of psychopathology in these comforting, encouraging, and inspiring words: "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers" (III John 2). No person's soul can prosper and, therefore, no one can be in optimal holistic health if one is living in fear of eternal torture in hell for oneself and/or loved ones. Do you know the symbolic meaning of the mixed metaphor, "salted with fire," of which few people have even heard? If not, you owe it to yourself to read this solidly Biblically-based book. One can believe in Christian Universalism (CU), not in spite of what The Holy Bible teaches, but because of exactly what The Holy Bible teaches about sin, salvation, and hell. Based on Biblical and historical facts, Jesus clearly taught CU—both implicitly and explicitly—just as surely as the grass is green, the sky is blue, God is in heaven, and Christ is Lord!
Author : Nik Ripken
Publisher : B&H Publishing Group
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 16,98 MB
Release : 2014
Category : Religion
ISBN : 1433673096
Identifies the dangers of safe Christianity and the embracing of casual faith, daring readers to face the risk of persecution and partner with Jesus in the toughest places on Earth.
Author : Allen Thiher
Publisher : University of Michigan Press
Page : 363 pages
File Size : 31,76 MB
Release : 1999
Category : History
ISBN : 0472089994
"The scope of this book is daunting, ranging from madness in the ancient Greco-Roman world, to Christianized concepts of medieval folly, through the writings of early modern authors such as Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Descartes, and on to German Romantic philosophy, fin de siecle French poetry, and Freud . . . Artaud, Duras, and Plath."-Isis"This provocative and closely argued work will reward many readers."-ChoiceIn Revels in Madness, Allen Thiher surveys a remarkable range of writers as he shows how conceptions of madness in literature have reflected the cultural assumptions of their era, and emphasizes the transition from classical to modern theories of madness-a transition that began at the end of the Enlightenment and culminates in recent women's writing that challenges the postmodern understanding of madness as a fall from language or as a dysfunction of culture.
Author : Edwin Fuller Torrey
Publisher : Rutgers University Press
Page : 442 pages
File Size : 50,54 MB
Release : 2001
Category : History
ISBN : 9780813530031
Examines the records on insanity in England, Ireland, Canada, and the United States over a 250-year period, concluding, through quantitative and qualitative evidence, that insanity is an unrecognized, modern-day plague.
