Baptism Is Making a Difference


Book Description

Baptism is Making a Difference provides daily reflections on how Baptism gives meaning and focus to everyday living. Using selected Bible verses and stories from his own experience, the author identifies how remembering his Baptism affects his own life. He invites you to experience the difference that remembering your Baptism can make in your own life and relationships.




Baptism


Book Description

In Baptism: Three Views, editor David F. Wright has provided a forum for thoughtful proponents of three principal evangelical views on baptism to state their case, respond to the others, and then provide a summary response and statement. Sinclair Ferguson sets out the case for infant baptism, Bruce Ware presents the case for believers' baptism, and Anthony Lane argues for a mixed practice.




It Takes a Church to Baptize


Book Description

The issue of baptism has troubled Protestants for centuries. Should infants be baptized before their faith is conscious, or does God command the baptism of babies whose parents have been baptized? Popular New Testament scholar Scot McKnight makes a biblical case for infant baptism, exploring its history, meaning, and practice and showing that infant baptism is the most historic Christian way of forming children into the faith. He explains that the church's practice of infant baptism developed straight from the Bible and argues that it must begin with the family and then extend to the church. Baptism is not just an individual profession of faith: it takes a family and a church community to nurture a child into faith over time. McKnight explains infant baptism for readers coming from a tradition that baptizes adults only, and he counters criticisms that fail to consider the role of families in the formation of faith. The book includes a foreword by Todd Hunter and an afterword by Gerald McDermott.




Spirit and Sacrament


Book Description

Spirit and Sacrament by pastor and author Andrew Wilson is an impassioned call to join together two traditions that are frequently and unnecessarily kept separate. It is an invitation to pursue the best of both worlds in worship, the Eucharistic and the charismatic, with the grace of God at the center. Wilson envisions church services in which healing testimonies and prayers of confession coexist, the congregation sings When I Survey the Wondrous Cross followed by Happy Day, and creeds move the soul while singing moves the body. He imagines a worship service that could come out of the book of Acts: Young men see visions, old men dream dreams, sons and daughters prophesy, and they all come together to the same Table and go on their way rejoicing. In short, Spirit and Sacrament is an appeal to bring out of the church's storehouse all of its treasures, so that God's people can worship our unrivaled Savior with sacraments and spiritual gifts, raised hands and lowered faces.




Believer's Baptism


Book Description

Is believer’s baptism the clear teaching of the New Testament Scriptures? What are the historical and theological challenges to believer’s baptism? What are the practical applications for believer’s baptism today? Volume two in the NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY STUDIES IN BIBLE & THEOLOGY (NACSBT) series for pastors, advanced Bible students, and other deeply committed laypersons addresses these compelling questions. Indeed, Believer’s Baptism begins with the belief that believer’s baptism (as opposed to infant baptism or other faith proclaiming methods) is the clear teaching of the New Testament. Along the way, the argument is supported by written contributions from Andreas Kostenberger, Robert Stein, Thomas Schreiner, Stephen Wellum, Steve McKinion, Jonathan Rainbow, Shawn Wright, and Mark Dever. Users will find this an excellent extension of the long-respected NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY.




A Visual Walk Through Genesis


Book Description

An Objective Look at Some of the Bible's Strangest Stories Genesis offers helpful answers to the biggest questions in life—Why are we here? What is God like? Why so much evil and pain? But today's readers often get tripped up by the ancient writing style and wonder... Did Moses really write Genesis? Many of the reports seem so odd—are they scientifically accurate? Does that matter? How does Genesis relate to other ancient accounts of creation, the origin of evil, and the great flood? Stephen M. Miller—a seminary-educated news journalist—presents viewpoints from a wide range of Christian Bible experts, along with gorgeous graphics and a touch of dry humor. Whether you're a Bible newbie or a longtime reader, this visual stroll through the first book of the Bible will help you bridge the gap between then and now.




Rich Wounds


Book Description

Profound reflections on the cross that help you to meditate on and marvel at the sacrificial love of Jesus. This book can be used as a devotional, especially during Lent and Easter. These profound reflections on the cross from David Mathis, author of The Christmas We Didn’t Expect, will help you to meditate on and marvel at Jesus’ life, sacrificial death, and spectacular resurrection-enabling you to treasure anew who Jesus is and what he has done. Many of us are so familiar with the Easter story that it becomes easy to miss subtle details and difficult to really enjoy its meaning. This book will help you to pause and marvel at Jesus, whose now-glorified wounds are a sign of his unfailing love and the decisive victory that he has won: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) This book can be used as a devotional. The chapters on Holy Week make it especially helpful during the Lent season and at Easter.




On Baptism Against the Donatists


Book Description

This treatise was written about 400 A.D. Concerning it Aug. in Retract. Book II. c. xviii., says: I have written seven books on Baptism against the Donatists, who strive to defend themselves by the authority of the most blessed bishop and martyr Cyprian; in which I show that nothing is so effectual for the refutation of the Donatists, and for shutting their mouths directly from upholding their schism against the Catholic Church, as the letters and act of Cyprian. Aeterna Press




How My Mind Has Changed


Book Description

In this book, which continues a renowned series of essays published in the Christian Century, thirteen prominent Christian theologians speak--in unusually personal voices--of their journeys of faith and of the questions that have shaped their writing and scholarship. Reflecting a variety of theological positions and approaches, these essays feature decisive encounters with prayer, scriptural tradition, struggles for justice, and religious and cultural diversity. Some of these "changes of mind" include a change in denominational allegiance, others reflect a shift in method or emphasis prompted by experiences inside or outside the church. Some of the essays display a long-term theological project that unfolds or deepens in changing circumstances. All display the renewed vitality of theology in the postmodern context. Contributors include Paul Griffiths, Sarah Coakley, Mark Noll, Nicholas Wolterstorff, Carol Zaleski, Kathryn Tanner, Scott Cairns, Robert Jenson, Emilie Townes, Peter Ochs, David Ford, Douglas John Hall, and Max Stackhouse.




Perspectives on Spirit Baptism


Book Description

Perspectives on Spirit Baptism presents in counterpoint form the basic common beliefs on spirit baptism which have developed over the course of church history with a view toward determining which is most faithful to Scripture. Each chapter will be written by a prominent person from within each tradition—with specific guidelines dealing with the biblical, historical, and theological issues within each tradition. In addition, each writer will have the opportunity to give a brief response to the other traditions.