New Life in the Risen Christ


Book Description

Baptism is a foundational rite and sacrament of the church. Over the centuries, the significance of baptism for Christian life and faith has been confirmed by the church, but baptism remains a highly controversial topic. Numerous disagreements exist between denominations and faith traditions--including the various descendants of the original Methodist movement--over the doctrine and practice of baptism. Who can be baptized? Why is baptism done? What does the rite mean? New Life in the Risen Christ: A Wesleyan Theology of Baptism seeks to address confusion over baptism and offer a coherent treatment of the sacrament from a Wesleyan theological perspective. Distinguished scholars from around the world are brought together in this volume to examine the writings of John Wesley and offer scholarly reflections on topics related to the sacrament of baptism. Their work is an invitation to remember and be thankful for baptism as the sign of divine grace that initiates Christians into a new reality: life in the risen Christ.







Is the Reformation Over?


Book Description

An evangelical evaluation of post-Vatican II Roman Catholicism and evangelical-Catholic relations.




An Invitation to Analytic Christian Theology


Book Description

Analytic theology is a new and stimulating movement that uses the tools and methods of philosophy to help us understand and articulate Christian doctrine. Thomas McCall introduces us to analytic theology, explaining its connections to Scripture, Christian tradition and culture, and calling the discipline to deeper engagement with the traditional resources of the theological task.




Have You Faith in Christ?


Book Description

John Wesley taught his followers to ask questions. New Christians were placed in small classes where they were queried weekly about their progress in the Christian journey: how it is with your soul, are you making progress, are you going on to a perfection of love in the walk with Christ? Christian spirituality can only be understood and experienced within community. And within that community, those designated to lead have a profound responsibility to clarify with believers the nature and purpose God has for them in life. In this book, Bishop Lyght draws attention to another set of questions originating in John Wesley's Historic Examination for Admission into Full Connection. These 19 questions are asked of candidates desiring to be ordained into the ministry of the church and must be answered to the satisfaction of the bishop prior to the bishop laying on hands and bestowing the spiritual gift of ordination.




Around the Table


Book Description

In these days of uncivil public discourse—complete with trolling, hater comments, CAPSLOCKING, and generally acting like jerks towards each other—talking graciously about anything is becoming a lost art. Throw religion into the mix (“Well, my Bible says . . . ”) and you’ve got one huge toxic mess. Is it possible for Christians to become more thoughtful and gracious conversation partners as we talk through our theological disagreements? How can we keep from throwing around the term heretic! every time someone disagrees with us? And remember, it’s a big world out there. If arguing with other Christians isn’t difficult enough, how do we think about engaging members of other religions? What’s the point of talking with them? They don’t know God anyway, right? Then there are all those agnostics and atheists, accusing believers of ignorance and calling for the end of religion. Why should we even want to talk with these people? Aren’t they our enemies? What can we possibly learn from them? In this book, Jonathan Case explores, from a Christian theological perspective, what’s at stake in these conversations and suggests how to keep people talking through their disagreements about that most volatile subject: God.




Making Room, 25th anniversary edition


Book Description

Hospitality is crucial to Christian ministry. To the early Christians, hospitality was central to the gospel mission. This hospitality did not consist of entertaining neighbors, but welcoming the stranger, especially those who could not return the favor. Yet despite urgent need, hospitality has fallen by the wayside. Christine Pohl’s classic work, Making Room, first spoke to this issue in 1999. And it is just as relevant today, with the refugee crisis, the rise in homelessness, and growing loneliness and isolation. This revitalized edition, with a new foreword and afterword by the author, introduces the theology of hospitality to a new generation. Pohl combines rich biblical and historical research with experience in contemporary Christian communities, including the Catholic Worker, L’Abri, Good Works, Inc., and others. Pragmatic and thoughtful, Pohl deals frankly with both the blessings and the boundaries of hospitality. Readers will find a wealth of wisdom to revive authentic hospitality in their ministry.




Against Calvinism


Book Description

Calvinist theology has been debated and promoted for centuries. But is it a theology that should last? Roger Olson suggests that Calvinism, also commonly known as Reformed theology, holds an unwarranted place in our list of accepted theologies. In Against Calvinism, readers will find scholarly arguments explaining why Calvinist theology is incorrect and how it affects God’s reputation. Olson draws on a variety of sources, including Scripture, reason, tradition, and experience, to support his critique of Calvinism and the more historically rich, biblically faithful alternative theologies he proposes. Addressing what many evangelical Christians are concerned about today—so-called “new Calvinism,” a movement embraced by a generation labeled as “young, restless, Reformed” —Against Calvinism is the only book of its kind to offer objections from a non-Calvinist perspective to the current wave of Calvinism among Christian youth. As a companion to Michael Horton’s For Calvinism, readers will be able to compare contrasting perspectives and form their own opinions on the merits and weaknesses of Calvinism.