The Message Prayerful Reading Bible: Luke & Acts (Softcover, Purple)


Book Description

Slow Down and Connect with God The Bible in contemporary language is placed here alongside the ancient Christian practice of lectio divina, or sacred reading. You'll enter the text of Scripture more fully than ever before and come out of each prayerful reading with a fresh encounter with our loving God, ready to live in the way of Jesus. A perfect resource for your devotional quiet time. This New Testament Bible portion includes the complete books of Luke and Acts. It introduces readers to the timeless practice of lectio divina and provides guided reflection. There is also ample space for journaling your observations, reflections, and prayers. Here are the steps of lectio divina to help you slow down and meet God: Stop: Take a moment to stop and prepare to encounter God. Read: Do a first reading and make observations of the text. Ponder: Read the text again and meditate on its meaning. Pray: Begin a conversation with God about this Scripture. Reflect: Take note of what this time with God has brought to the surface for you. Live: Consider how this time with God translates into our life with God.




The Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles


Book Description

Introduces literary, historical, and theological issues of Luke and Acts. Biblical texts create worlds of meaning, and invite readers to enter them. When readers enter such textual worlds, which are often strange and complex, they are confronted with theological claims. With this in mind, the purpose of the Interpreting Biblical Texts series is to help serious readers in their experience of reading and interpreting by providing guides for their journeys into textual worlds. The controlling perspective is expressed in the operative word of the title--interpreting. The primary focus of the series is not so much on the world behind the texts or out of which the texts have arisen as on the worlds created by the texts in their engagement with readers. In keeping with the goals of the series, this volume provides an introductory guide to readers of the New Testament books of Luke and Acts. It focuses on both the synchronic and diachronic dimensions of the literature in an effort to acquaint readers with literary, historical, and theological issues that will facilitate interpretation of these important books. F. Scott Spencer is Professor of New Testament at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.




Be Dynamic (Acts 1-12)


Book Description

"The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity," writes celebrated author and respected pastor Warren Wiersbe. In his first of two books covering Acts, Be Dynamic focuses on Peter's ministry, mostly in Israel and centered in Jerusalem. Through explaining Luke's record of the Gospel's advancement and church expansion, Wiersbe opens the door to understanding the work of the church today. Using hard-hitting quotes from recognized names like St. Augustine and John Bunyan, Wiersbe proves himself as a well-read author and gifted writer. The depth of his study is astounding, yet the accessibility of his text for every age group is evident as well. He proves what Luke intended-for Acts to be interpreted not as the apostles' glorious acts, but as the life-changing acts of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit lives in believers today, the same God calls followers to expand His church, and the same basic problems still arise within the church, but the same power available then is still available now to change the nations.




Living on the Plain


Book Description

A devotional guide following the Gospel of Luke, for individuals, small group study, or sermon preparation. The Gospel of Luke is relevant for today's Christian seeking insights on prayer, common humanity, communal equality, and stewardship. Angels, genealogies, miracles, and parables are rendered accessible, and transformed from skimming material to the real heart of the Gospel. This transformation is an invitation for refining one's faith. In a day-by-day, story-by-story format, Living on the Plain re-tells the Christian journey through fifty-eight reflections for reading the Gospel of Luke that can be used as a daily devotion for personal or group Bible study at any time of the year.




Lent for Everyone


Book Description

From one of the world's leading scholars and Christian writers, stirring reflections for Lent.




Women Living Well


Book Description

Women desire to live well. However, living well in this modern world is a challenge. The pace of life, along with the new front porch of social media, has changed the landscape of our lives. Women have been told for far too long that being on the go and accumulating more things will make their lives full. As a result, we grasp for the wrong things in life and come up empty. God created us to walk with him; to know him and to be loved by him. He is our living well and when we drink from the water he continually provides, it will change us. Our marriages, our parenting, and our homemaking will be transformed. Mommy-blogger Courtney Joseph is a cheerful realist. She tackles the challenge of holding onto vintage values in a modern world, starting with the keys to protecting our walk with God. No subject is off-limits as she moves on to marriage, parenting, and household management. Rooted in the Bible, her practical approach includes tons of tips that are perfect for busy moms, including: Simple Solutions for Studying God’s Word How to Handle Marriage, Parenting, and Homemaking in a Digital Age 10 Steps to Completing Your Husband Dealing With Disappointed Expectations in Motherhood Creating Routines that Bring Rest Pursuing the Discipline and Diligence of the Proverbs 31 Woman There is nothing more important than fostering your faith, building your marriage, training your children, and creating a haven for your family. Women Living Well is a clear and personal guide to making the most of these precious responsibilities.




The Jesus Storybook Bible


Book Description

The Moonbeam Award Gold Medal Winner in the religion category, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David---every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle---the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God's great story of salvation---and at the center of their Story too.




Psalms


Book Description

The book of Psalms teaches us to pray with passion, honesty, and zeal. In truth, the book of Psalms is all about open communication with God. Psalms: An Invitation to Prayer will help Catholics learn how to pray openly and honestly using the Psalms as an example. For busy adults who want to study the Bible but don't know where to begin, Six Weeks with the Bible provides an inviting starting point. Each guide is divided into six concise, 90-minute segments that introduce one book of the Bible. All biblical text is printed in the guides, which means no additional study aids are required.




A Method for Prayer


Book Description




On Living Well


Book Description

In these never-before-published stories, sayings, and biblical teachings, the beloved author and translator of The Message Bible shows us how the wisdom of deep faith helps us live well. “Calming, encouraging, and profound.”—Matt Chandler, lead pastor of The Village Church “Jesus’ words bring us the news of an expanded world, a bright world, a full-dimensioned world, a world in which God rules, mercy is common experience, and love is the daily working agenda.” Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018) was one of the most beloved authors, pastors, poets, and professors of our time. While millions have read his bestselling paraphrased Bible translation, The Message, far fewer have heard his direct practical insights and wisdom about how to live well. Eugene knew the extraordinary spirituality of ordinary life. He understood that we actually become more, not less, human as we grow to live like Jesus. And living like Jesus means living well. On Living Well collects some of Eugene’s best never-before-published short writings to help you walk in the way of Jesus with a little more courage, passion, and hope—by offering new ways to practice generosity, community, prayer, simplicity, worship, inner peace, and so much more . . . even with the challenges of today. This book is a rich feast for the soul, ideal as a daily spiritual touchpoint or simply to nourish a heart hungry for pastoral wisdom. It is your invitation to enter into the meaningful simplicity of life with Jesus in a world of immense beauty, real difficulty, and endless wonder.