Thinking with the Church


Book Description

Thinking with the Church offers twelve substantial essays from B. A. Gerrish, renowned historian, theologian, and Calvin scholar. In this collection, he focuses on the Calvinist tradition and the interpretation of historical theology as a critical engagement with past leaders of Christian thought and their opponents. / In the first two parts the essays focus on philosophical theology, considering questions such as What is religion? and What is revelation? Part three turns directly to historical interpretation of the Calvinist tradition, viewed in the very diverse work of three of its foremost representatives Calvin himself, Friedrich Schleiermacher, and Charles Hodge. Finally, in the fourth and fifth sections Gerrish deals with particular Christian doctrines in which the diversity of the Calvinist tradition is apparent the atonement, the Eucharist, and grace. Historical interpretation is the foundation throughout, but Gerrish does not exclude the critical engagement that belongs to the task of historical theology.




Winning the War in Your Mind


Book Description

MORE THAN 500,000 COPIES SOLD! Are your thoughts out of control--just like your life? Do you long to break free from the spiral of destructive thinking? Let God's truth become your battle plan to win the war in your mind! We've all tried to think our way out of bad habits and unhealthy thought patterns, only to find ourselves stuck with an out-of-control mind and off-track daily life. Pastor and New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel understands deeply this daily battle against self-doubt and negative thinking, and in this powerful new book he reveals the strategies he's discovered to change your mind and your life for the long-term. Drawing upon Scripture and the latest findings of brain science, Groeschel lays out practical strategies that will free you from the grip of harmful, destructive thinking and enable you to live the life of joy and peace that God intends you to live. Winning the War in Your Mind will help you: Learn how your brain works and see how to rewire it Identify the lies your enemy wants you to believe Recognize and short-circuit your mental triggers for destructive thinking See how prayer and praise will transform your mind Develop practices that allow God's thoughts to become your thoughts God has something better for your life than your old ways of thinking. It's time to change your mind so God can change your life.




Autistic Thinking in the Life of the Church


Book Description

Autism was only identified and recognised relatively recently, but even so one might have expected the church to have moved further in its thinking about how autistic thinking can contribute to the life of the church. At a time when churches exhibit a heightened awareness of ‘inclusion’ and recognition of difference in all manner of ways, it is startling how little attention is given to those who have autism. Drawn from extensive research amongst autistic worshippers, Autistic Thinking in the Life of the Church develops and explores a model in which churches can strengthen and retain the cognitive engagement of those worshippers in their congregations who are on the autistic spectrum.




Right Thinking in a Church Gone Astray


Book Description

Keeping the Church on Track in a Secular World The church today faces great challenges, both from without and from within. Popular culture tempts Christians to compromise truth in the name of relevance and to ignore sin under the guise of tolerance. At the same time, serious doctrinal errors threaten to undermine the authority of God's Word, leading to all sorts of unbiblical practices. Right Thinking in a Church Gone Astray offers responses from trusted evangelical voices on 15 timely issues. With a careful look at God's Word, you'll gain wisdom and insights on highly relevant topics such as... measuring true success in ministry countering the church's celebrity culture responding biblically to homosexuality reclaiming the essentials of the Christian faith discerning God's ultimate priority for the church With biblical guidance on these and other vital matters, this resource provides much-needed clarity for today's church.




Becoming a Thinking Christian


Book Description

This book challenges Christians to think. Committed lay Christians, says Cobb, are already theologians; he wants them to realize this and then to become good theologians. Laypersons are just as capable as professional theologians of intellectual hard work, but they no longer expect the church to ask this of them. Cobb discusses why it is important for Christians to think about their own beliefs and assumptions. He encourages readers to find and become conversation partners. He also suggests steps a Christian's thinking may take; sources the individual can draw on, including how professionals can help; and where this thinking may lead. Cobb asserts that if there is a renewal of thinking in the church, there will be church renewal. The goal is to focus and sharpen one's thinking so that it is one's own, and to apply that thinking to one's being and acting. Each chapter ends with a section "Doing Your Theology" which is a list of questions for reflection and discussion. Chapter titles include: On Becoming What You Are: A Theologian; Ethics and Theology; Shaping Up; Biblical Authority; Christians and Jews; Professionals: Help and Hindrance; Christian Counterattack; A Critique of Economics; A Critique of the University; An Afterword on Church Theology




Thinking Christianity


Book Description

Throughout Church history, a lack of clear thought has been the chief cause of heresy: wherever indifference to doctrine and theology has arisen, neglect and rejection have soon followed. Christianity today faces a crisis in thinking: there is both an indifference toward, and neglect of, serious thought about Christian doctrine and theology. Instead, personal experience has been given primacy. Thinking Christianity attempts to reverse this popular attitude and forestall the rejection of the Christian gospel that will otherwise inevitably follow. Author Daniel Klassen covers two aspects of thinking in the Christian faith: the necessity for thinking, and the need for proper thinking. Addressing the first aspect, he answers questions such as “Why should Christians think?”, “Is faith reasonable and rational?”, “How do we know God?”, and “How do we know the truth?”. Addressing the second aspect, he explores foundational beliefs for the Christian faith, covering questions such as, “What is salvation?”, “What is sanctification?”, How do we gain assurance?”, and “What does it mean to worship God?”. Throughout the book, he attempts to answer these questions with clarity and truthfulness by expounding Scripture, using historical examples from the Reformation, and exploring philosophical ideas. This clearly reasoned, timely book will help Christians live in assurance and confidence in God—and preserve the gospel for future generations.




Think Orange


Book Description

What if the primary mission of the church is not to help the family, and the number one priority of the family is not to go to church?What if they are both designed to work together to show a generation who God is?It's not either/or. It's both/and.In Think Orange, Reggie Joiner shows how two combined influences can make a greater impact than just two influences separately. Church leaders who "think orange" make radical changes so they can ?Engage parents in an integrated strategySynchronize the home and church around a clear messageProvoke parents and kids to fight for their relationship with each otherRecruit mentors to become partners with familiesMobilize the next generation to be the churchWhen you think orange, you rethink the way you do ministry for children and teenagers.







Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong


Book Description

“Our response to moral questions is not determined by politics, economics, personal preference, popular opinion, or human reasoning. It is, instead, grounded in what God has told us is true about ourselves and our world....God’s Word offers sanity, clarity, and hope.” --John MacArthur Trusted Voices Offer Biblical Responses to Today’s Hot Issues One of the greatest challenges facing Christians today is the powerful influence of secular thinking. From all directions we’re fed a constant barrage of persuasive—yet unbiblical—worldviews. This makes it difficult to know where to stand on today’s most talked-about issues. The leadership team at Grace Community Church, along with their pastor, John MacArthur, provide much-needed discernment and clarity in the midst of rampant confusion. Using the Bible as the foundation, you’ll learn how to develop a Christian perspective on key issues—including... political activism environmentalism the cult of celebrity entertainment and escapism homosexual marriage abortion, birth control, and surrogacy euthanasia and suicide disasters and epidemics immigration God and the problem of evil Also included is a topical reference guide of Bible verses that address key concerns—a guide that will arm you with right thinking and biblical answers to challenging questions.




Too Good to Be False


Book Description

Stories always involve a main character, and Jesus' character is unlike any other. No other hero-whether of history, myth, imagination, or legend-has loved as he loved, led the way he led, been a friend the way he was a friend, or understood himself as Jesus understood himself.