The Gospel According to Matthew


Book Description

The publication of the King James version of the Bible, translated between 1603 and 1611, coincided with an extraordinary flowering of English literature and is universally acknowledged as the greatest influence on English-language literature in history. Now, world-class literary writers introduce the book of the King James Bible in a series of beautifully designed, small-format volumes. The introducers' passionate, provocative, and personal engagements with the spirituality and the language of the text make the Bible come alive as a stunning work of literature and remind us of its overwhelming contemporary relevance.




Failure: the Back Door to Success


Book Description

Find the goodin your failure. Failure is a fact of life, one we’d rather forget. Fortunately it has a silver lining. Failure, the Back Door to Success shows us how God uses even our sins, shortcomings, and weaknesses in His perfect plan. It will inspire you to: Learn from the past without being controlled by it Embrace your limitations Accept yourself as God accepts you Be more gracious toward others Redefine your idea of success Easy to follow, illustrated with engaging stories, and deeply encouraging, Failure, the Back Door to Success speaks straight to the heart. It will make you feel free to try and unafraid of failing, knowing that God is the one at work in you, and that he’s not finished yet. And that’s the first step toward success, every time. “This book is sorely needed in our overanalyzed, under-motivated, and guilt-ridden Christian society. It can be a life changer to anyone tired of the old one-step-forward-and-two-steps-backward routine.” — Howard G. Hendricks




The Parable of the Mustard Seed


Book Description

The past never stays buried forever. John Faimu is an Australian-Samoan police officer who deals with hurt kids every day. He loves what he does, but he's tired of the grind of shift work, and of trying to find a balance between his job, his family, and the young man who straddles the increasingly blurry line between both. Caleb Fletcher was the teenager John saved from a cult eight long years ago, and he's now the young man John wants in ways that neither of them should risk. Eight years after his rescue, Caleb is still struggling with PTSD and self-harm. John has always been his rock, but now Caleb wants more. Can he convince John to cross a line and love him the way they both crave? And when the monsters from Caleb's past come back seeking to silence him for good, will John's love be enough to save him? The Parable of the Mustard Seed is an mm gay romance featuring hurt/comfort, first times, found family, and angst with a happy ending.




The Marvelous Mustard Seed


Book Description

A child plants a mustard seed in an empty garden. It is an itty-bitty seed. It isnt anything very specialyet. Discover the surprising potential of one small seed in The Marvelous Mustard Seed. Based on Jesus parable of the Mustard Seed, this inspiring childrens book shows young readers that one tiny seedjust like one small childcarries a world of potential. The Marvelous Mustard Seed features ethnically diverse characters, and it is ideal for children ages 4-8. A special note for parents and teachers is included.




Holy Bible (NIV)


Book Description

The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.




Faith of a Mustard Seed


Book Description

Paul Karanick and his wife, Christina, experienced what it means to have the faith of a mustard seed. The term is used by Christ to explain the power that one can have if we just have a little faith. Paul looks back on his life and ministry to reveal how God strengthens our faith and forms us into an effective part of the body of Christ. Recalling the steps of how God led him, his family and ministry, Paul highlights how God equips the ones He calls by:  Calling all people to have faith  Confirming that God is calling  Walking through fear  Building a stronger faith  Infecting others with faith Paul uses his own life as an example of the faith process. These illustrations will prepare believers for the typical steps involved in building a stronger faith relationship with Christ. Paul openly admits that he was not qualified to take on the task that God had placed upon him, but God would soon reveal to Paul that no one is truly qualified without the power of Christ. God reshaped Paul and led him into a ministry that continuously depended upon faith. A true visionary and gifted in faith, he began to trust less in his own abilities and more upon God's abilities. Knowing that without faith it is impossible to please God, Paul teaches of using faith to get as close to God as you can. Paul's unshakeable faith became contagious within his ministry as life's worries and fears were lessened due to the faith that God provides.




The Mandaean Book of John


Book Description

Given the degree of popular fascination with Gnostic religions, it is surprising how few pay attention to the one such religion that has survived from antiquity until the present day: Mandaism. Mandaeans, who esteem John the Baptist as the most famous adherent to their religion, have in our time found themselves driven from their historic homelands by war and oppression. Today, they are a community in crisis, but they provide us with unparalleled access to a library of ancient Gnostic scriptures, as part of the living tradition that has sustained them across the centuries. Gnostic texts such as these have caught popular interest in recent times, as traditional assumptions about the original forms and cultural contexts of related religious traditions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have been called into question. However, we can learn only so much from texts in isolation from their own contexts. Mandaean literature uniquely allows us not only to increase our knowledge about Gnosticism, and by extension all these other religions, but also to observe the relationship between Gnostic texts, rituals, beliefs, and living practices, both historically and in the present day.




Clean Your Inner House


Book Description




Stories with Intent


Book Description

Winner of the 2009 Christianity Today Award for Biblical Studies, Stories with Intent offers pastors and students a comprehensive and accessible guide to Jesus' parables. Klyne Snodgrass explores in vivid detail the historical context in which these stories were told, the part they played in Jesus' overall message, and the ways in which they have been interpreted in the church and the academy. Snodgrass begins by surveying the primary issues in parables interpretation and providing an overview of other parables—often neglected in the discussion—from the Old Testament, Jewish writings, and the Greco-Roman world. He then groups the more important parables of Jesus thematically and offers a comprehensive treatment of each, exploring both background and significance for today. This tenth anniversary edition includes a substantial new chapter that surveys developments in the interpretation of parables since the book's original 2008 publication.




The Parts of Man


Book Description