The Insanity of Obedience


Book Description

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.




The Insanity of God


Book Description

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.




The Insanity of Obedience - Bible Study Book


Book Description

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.




The Necessity of God


Book Description

Every person acquires a worldview, a picture of reality. Within that picture, the existence of some things will be taken wholly for granted as the background to, and support of, everything else. Their existence will rarely be questioned. The cosmos or universe, the gods, God, Brahman, Heaven, the Absolute--R. T. Allen claims that all these and other world- views have been held to be that which necessarily exists and upon which all other beings depend in one way or another.European philosophers, since antiquity, have offered arguments to show that their chosen candidates for the role of the necessary being or beings that support the rest of reality do actually exist. The Necessity of God sets the valid core of previous ontological arguments. It does not and cannot prove that God exists, but only that something necessarily exists. In an a priori manner and without inferring anything from what in fact exists, Allen proceeds to show that which necessarily exists is one, transfinite, eternal, and the archetype of personal existence: in short, that it is God as classically conceived. As for everything else that may exist, it must be finite and dependent for its existence upon God as its creator and sustainer.Few things are more erroneous in philosophy and disastrous in practice than artificial constructions produced without constant reference to concrete reality. That which necessarily exists may be the one exception. Before this constructive argument, Allen examines previous examples of ontological arguments in order to show exactly where they go wrong and to extract the valid core obscured within them. This will make clear the difference between them and his new version. The reader who is eager to engage the philosophical sources of belief will find a distinct treasure in The Necessity of God.




The Insanity of Sacrifice


Book Description

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.




The Insanity of Obedience


Book Description

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.




NKJV, Unapologetic Study Bible


Book Description

The NKJV Unapologetic Study Bible cuts through the confusion with clear answers for today’s most complicated and controversial issues. With timely articles, thoughtful book introductions, insightful quotations, and profiles on some of history’s most unapologetic defenders of the faith, this is a Bible that won’t leave you guessing. You’ll grow in confidence as you discover how to defend your faith and share it with others in a world increasingly at odds with the truth of God’s Word. The Bible doesn’t shy away from the tough topics, and neither should you. Features Include: Book Introductions: Provide key passages and background information for each book Articles: Over 220 articles placed near relevant Scripture passages bring keen biblical insight to the current issues of the day Quotations: Over 70 quotations from historical figures help you understand, first, that the issues of the day are not new; and second, that wise people throughout history have been challenged to live by biblical standards, just as we are today Unapologetic Profiles: Over 50 profiles of historical figures inspire you with biblical faith lived out in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances Indexes: Categorize each of the above features to assist you in a topical study of the issues that matter to you 8.9-point print size




Themelios, Volume 43, Issue 2


Book Description

Themelios is an international, evangelical, peer-reviewed theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith. Themelios is published three times a year online at The Gospel Coalition (http://thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/) and in print by Wipf and Stock. Its primary audience is theological students and pastors, though scholars read it as well. Themelios began in 1975 and was operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008. The editorial team draws participants from across the globe as editors, essayists, and reviewers. General Editor: D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Managing Editor: Brian Tabb, Bethlehem College and Seminary Consulting Editor: Michael J. Ovey, Oak Hill Theological College Administrator: Andrew David Naselli, Bethlehem College and Seminary Book Review Editors: Jerry Hwang, Singapore Bible College; Alan Thompson, Sydney Missionary & Bible College; Nathan A. Finn, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Hans Madueme, Covenant College; Dane Ortlund, Crossway; Jason Sexton, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary Editorial Board: Gerald Bray, Beeson Divinity School Lee Gatiss, Wales Evangelical School of Theology Paul Helseth, University of Northwestern, St. Paul Paul House, Beeson Divinity School Ken Magnuson, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Jonathan Pennington, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary James Robson, Wycliffe Hall Mark D. Thompson, Moore Theological College Paul Williamson, Moore Theological College Stephen Witmer, Pepperell Christian Fellowship Robert Yarbrough, Covenant Seminary







NIV, Quest Study Bible


Book Description

The Bestselling NIV Quest Study Bible Answers Thousands of Your Questions About the Bible. Get answers to the Bible questions you have... and questions you haven’t yet pondered! The NIV Quest Study Bible features over 7,000 notes written in an engaging question and answer format that give insight into the common, uncommon, and sometimes perplexing passages from the Bible. You will have the opportunity to consider questions like “Why did God send angels to Jacob?," "What prevents God from hearing our prayers?," and "Why does God test us?” as you explore God’s Word using the many study helps. The original Quest Study Bible was conceived in 1989 when two publishing companies, Zondervan and Christianity Today International, worked together to develop a Bible that would answer the challenging questions that arose as people read Scripture. Focus groups around the United States evaluated the usefulness of potential study Bible features and helped select the features that would be included in this Bible. Then, more than 1,000 people received passages of Scripture and were asked, “What questions do you have about this portion of the Bible?” Their responses helped determine what kinds of questions the notes would answer, helping to create a resource that answers the questions that real people have asked about the Bible. Notes have been updated in subsequent releases to ensure that this Bible stays relevant and current to modern readers. Features: Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) Over 7,000 insightful notes arranged in a unique question and answer format Nearly 350 articles investigate the most asked questions about the Bible Book introductions that answer questions about each book, such as “Who wrote it?,” “Why?,” and “What should I look for?” Article index and expanded subject index Single-column Scripture text arranged in a modern, two-color page design Over 150 charts, timelines, and maps A reading plan with three distinct tracks to follow NIV Dictionary-Concordance