Most Christians know and understand that we are to seek to reach the lost around the world. Yet, Christ's command to us is more specific and calls us to a higher standard of involvement with the peoples of the world. He has called the church to make disciples of all people groups and to teach them to observe all He commanded us (Matthew 28:18-20). In recent years mission agencies and missionaries have increasingly shifted away from discipleship and teaching toward an emphasis upon evangelism and church planting—many to the exclusion of any other field activity. While evangelism and church planting are essential components of a biblical missions program, they are not sufficient for the complete task to which we have been called. Reaching and Teaching examines the task Christ gave in the Great Commission and redefines the task of missions from that which is currently prevalent. It surveys missions strategies and methodologies that have increasingly replaced Christ’s Great Commission instructions even as they have sought to fulfill it. It is a clarion call to return to the biblical task of reaching and teaching the nations for Christ’s sake.
This book is about how to read and study the Bible. This book is about getting the non-Christian to learn how to study the Bible, and this book is for the Pastor and theologian who needs to have their "refresh" button pressed. This book is in fact for anybody desiring to know the Book of ages. If you are new to the Word or are a seasoned teacher. If you do not know where to begin, or you have tried countless times and feel overwhelmed and frustrated, this is the book for you!
Although there are many crossroads that lead to defining moments, none is greater than deciding to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The second most important crossroad is whether to live in obedience to God and His commandments or to ignore God's perfect plan, be disobedient and go your own way. A Call to Obedience leads you to face these crucial crossroads and asks you to examine your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and your obedience to God's Word. As you read this book, you will be prompted to answer questions that will reveal your obedience to God. Do you have a relationship with Jesus or do you have religion? Do you love God enough to obey Him without reservation? Are you obeying God in your marriage? What career choice is best for you? What is your role in church? What is your ministry? Are you a good steward? Are you honoring your parents? Are you walking obediently in the Holy Spirit? Are you raising your children with God's Word as your manual? When you get a call to obedience what are you going to do with it? Are you going to reject the leading of the Holy Spirit or are you going to yield and obey? Obedience is an expression of absolute love for God. If you desire to love God with all your heart, mind and soul, you need to commit to be obedient to God's Word. If you want to know what the Word of God says about obedience in the crucial areas of life, this book is for you.
Wise Sheep Among the Wolves All Christian disciples have one thing in common: as they carry the gospel across the ocean and across the street, persecution will become the norm for those who choose to follow Jesus. How believers respond in the face of persecution reveals everything about their level of faith and obedience. The Insanity of Obedience is a bold challenge to global discipleship. Nik Ripken exposes the danger of safe Christianity and calls readers to something greater. The Insanity of Obedience challenges Christians in the same, provocative way that Jesus did. This book dares you—and prepares you—to cross the street and the oceans with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Some of Jesus’ instructions sound uncomfortable and are potentially dangerous. We may be initially encouraged by His declaration, “I am sending you out.” But how are we to respond when He then tells us that He is sending us out “like sheep among wolves"? In light of the words of Jesus, how can modern day believers rest comfortably in the status quo? How can we embrace casual faith in light of the radical commands of Jesus which are anything but casual? Ripken brings decades of ministry experience in some of the most persecuted areas of the world to bear on our understanding of faith in Jesus. The Insanity of Obedience is a call to roll up your sleeves . . . and to follow and partner with Jesus in the toughest places on this planet. "We have the high privilege of answering Jesus’ call to go," Ripken says. "But let us be clear about this: we go on His terms, not ours. If we go at all, we go as sheep among wolves." Jesus gives us Himself. And He gives us the tools necessary for those who dare to journey with Him.
An amazing story of a missionary couple's journey into the toughest places on earth is combined with stories about remarkable people of faith they encountered to challenge and inspire those curious about the sufficiency of God.
What beliefs are core to the Christian faith? This book is here to help you understand the reason for your hope as a Christian so that you can see it with fresh sight and invite others into the conversation. A lot of Christians take their story—the narratives that give rise to their beliefs—for granted. They pray, go to church, perhaps even read their Bible. But they might be stuck if a stranger asked them to explain what they believe and why they believe it. Author, pastor, and theologian Mike Horton unpacks the essential and basic beliefs that all Christians share in a way that is easy to understand and applicable to our lives today. And in a way that will make you excited to be a Christian! Core Christianity covers topics like: Jesus as both fully God and fully man. The doctrine of the Trinity. The goodness of God despite a broken world. The ways God speaks. The meaning of salvation. What is the Christian calling? Includes discussion questions for individual or group use. This introduction to the basic doctrines of Christianity is perfect for those who are new to the faith, as well as those who have an interest in deepening their understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
An astute, outspoken lay theologian talks to Christians about how they can today find freedom in obedience to Christ's gospel and about the urgent necessity of trying to live this kind of freedom now. He insists that his readers look realistically and relentlessly at their own condition, at the condition of the church -- and that they see how these relate and compare to Christ's gospel. His book, based on certain passages from Hebrews, thus becomes a call to freedom and a call to revolutionary Christianity. William Stringfellow begins by spelling out, in impressive and telling detail, how the church has become mired in secular idolatries and ideologies, both economic and political. Then, in constrast to this situation, he examines Christ's resistance to the temptations of worldly power. Stringfellow ends his book by emphasizing the meaning of the resurrection as the exercise of the freedom of God and sets forth the victory over death and bondage given in Christ. Only in that gift is the Christian free to offer his own life to the world. Only thus is he free in obedience.
God has a plan to make your life count for eternity. Stop wasting it. You want your life to matter. To mean something. But if you’re like most people, you probably don’t have a compelling answer to the question, “What are you going to do with your life?” In this book, J.D. Greear considers Jesus’ radical call to give your life away to the greatest cause of all. To view your life from the perspective of eternity. To start making decisions now that you’ll be glad you made then. It’s time to put your “yes” on the table and let God put it on the map.
Since Eugene Peterson first wrote this spiritual formation classic nearly forty years ago, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been inspired by Peterson's prophetic and pastoral wisdom and the call to deeper discipleship found in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). This special commemorative edition includes a new preface taken from Leif Peterson's eulogy at his father's memorial service.
The Insanity of Obedience Bible Study Book includes small-group experiences for six sessions, weekly individual-study opportunities, applicable Scripture, "How to Use This Study," and tips for leading a group. How do we begin to walk and work with God, especially in dangerous places? Based on the documentary The Insanity of God, this Bible study presents missionary Nik Ripken sharing true stories of people who are suffering for the name of Jesus. This study is an invitation to open your heart, your mind, and your eyes to the realities of walking with Jesus in difficult places. Engage with Scripture and see what it means to be a true follower of Jesus, not just someone who believes certain truths. Discover the answers to key missiological and theological questions about living sacrificially for the cause of Christ. Believers play a significant role in God's divine purpose. Observe how Christians all over the world are not only surviving but also thriving in the midst of persecution. Session Content: 1) Nations This session deals with God's command to be on mission and our response to His command. The Bible is to be lived out in the present active tense. 2) Persecution This session explores faith in persecution and suffering. Is obedience on this level insane, especially in the midst of popular theology that encourages obedience leading to success and comfort? 3) Family This session deals with the spread of the gospel by addition and exponential growth. Faith grows in families and communities, from a single believer to small groups of believers to succeeding generations. 4) Growth This session deals with the dynamics of healthy growth. 5) Victory This session describes and celebrates the miracle of victorious living through an enduring faith--especially in hostile environments. 6) Church This session is a summary and personal call to action for individuals, groups, and churches to join God's mission--no matter how insane obedience may look. Why? Because Jesus is worth it. Features: - Clips from the feature documentary The Insanity of Obedience - Biblically rooted and gospel-centered - Firsthand accounts in the author's voice - Individual-study opportunities for ongoing spiritual growth - Six-week Bible Study Book with group and personal components - Step-by-step plans for six group sessions - Promotional content, including a promotional video for the Bible study - Social-media assets for the group leader Benefits: - Confront the misconception that church membership is the same as following Jesus. - See that the Bible's commands are nonnegotiable. - Break the grip of the seduction of comfort and ask Christians to face the question, Who is Jesus, and is He worth my life? - Put aside programs and practices to insert missional sacrifice and calling into the normal rhythms of church culture. - Give group members examples of ways to identify and respond to God's call on their lives. - Show believers how best to respond when persecution comes. - Demonstrate to groups that the bar of Christianity has become low in Western culture. - Reveal the Bible as nonnegotiable. - Lead believers to the conclusion that telling people about Jesus is normal Christianity. - Celebrate the miracle of victorious living. - Explore faith in persecution and suffering. - Provide a means to find courage from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. - Explore the dynamics of the personal call to action for individuals, groups, and churches to join God's mission.
