Liberating the Laity

Liberating the Laity

Author: R. Paul Stevens

Publisher: Regent College Publishing

Published: 2002-03

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13: 9781573830126

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Every church has far more work than any one person can do. Even a team of professionals is not enough. The New Testament solution was for every member to be a minister. Though the priesthood of all believers was a key idea in the Reformation, it is little practised today. Following secular models, churches usually organize around the clergy, who are paid by the laity to do the ministry. Paul Stevens argues that, according to Scripture, the primary task of a Christian leader is not to do the work but to equip the saints to do it. Exploring new options for pastors, tentmakers and laypeople, this book provides structures and strategies to best equip all the saints for ministry.


The Hungry Heart

The Hungry Heart

Author: Lynda Hunter Bjorklund

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 9780842379380

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Everyone longs for intimacy. Christians know that intimacy, significance, and acceptance can be found in the arms of a loving and gracious God. Hunter tells how to really get at that place with God.


The Marketplace Ministry Handbook

The Marketplace Ministry Handbook

Author: Robert J. Banks

Publisher: Regent College Publishing

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 9781573832946

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Work has become for many people the central reference point in their lives and the main consumer of their time and energy. Whether people have much or little money is what much of life revolves around. There is an implicit theology in everyone's attitude to and handling of work. This book looks at the relationship between God and the marketplace, at work as a spiritual discipline, and at how to handle some of the main pressures and dilemmas that arise in a work setting. The combined wisdom of dozens of experts makes this volume a great place to start thinking about how Christians should approach subjects such as: . ADVERTISING . BUSINESS ETHICS . COMPETITION . COMPROMISE . CONTRACTS . CREDIT. DEBT . FIRING . GOSSIP . INSURANCE . INTEGRITY . INVESTMENT . LEADERSHIP . LOYALTY . MANAGEMENT . NEGOTIATING . NETWORKING . OFFICE POLITICS . PROMOTION . RETIREMENT . SHIFTWORK . STEWARDSHIP . STRESS . STRIKES . UNIONS . VOLUNTEER WORK . WHISTLE-BLOWING R. Paul Stevens is the David J. Brown Family Professor of Marketplace Theology and Leadership at Regent College in Vancouver and the author of many books on marriage, work and everyday life. His many books include The Other Six Days, Liberating the Laity, Marriage Spirituality, Living the Story and Down-to-Earth Spirituality. Robert Banks is past director and dean of Macquarie Christian Studies Institute in Sydney, Australia. He has written widely on work, community, and popular culture, including The Tyranny of Time and Redeeming the Routines.


Habits of Grace

Habits of Grace

Author: David Mathis

Publisher: Crossway

Published: 2016-02-12

Total Pages: 146

ISBN-13: 1433550504

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The Christian life is built on three seemingly unremarkable practices: reading the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. However, according to David Mathis, such “habits of grace” are the God-designed channels through which his glorious grace flows—making them life-giving practices for all Christians. Whether it’s hearing God’s voice (the Word), having his ear (prayer), or participating in his body (fellowship), such spiritual rhythms of the Christian life have the power to awaken our souls to God’s glory and stir our hearts for lifelong service in his name. What’s more, these seemingly simple practices grant us access to a host of spiritual blessings that we can only begin to imagine this side of eternity—and the incredible joy that such blessings bring to God’s children today.


The Equipper's Guide to Every-Member Ministry

The Equipper's Guide to Every-Member Ministry

Author: R. Paul Stevens

Publisher: Regent College Publishing

Published: 2000-07

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 9781573831529

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Stevens shows how churches today can be faithful to the New Testament model of every-member ministry. Specifically he focuses on how the laity can teach and learn the Bible, conduct small groups, pastor the sick and hurting, lead worship, evangelize neighborhoods and more. (Evangelism)


Growing in Holiness through the Psalms

Growing in Holiness through the Psalms

Author: David J. McKinley

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2023-04-05

Total Pages: 187

ISBN-13: 166676213X

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In a confused world with moral decay, we need clear direction for godly living. While the mention of holiness is not commonly heard these days, the Psalms call us to cultivate holy lives in today's society. The psalmists not only teach us how to grow in holiness but they draw us into their own rich experiences. The author explores the Psalms to give us a perspective on the nature of holiness and the many important ways we can grow in holiness. The Psalter serves as an invaluable guide for our spiritual formation as followers of Jesus Christ.


Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

Author: W. Ross Hastings

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2016-06-28

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 1498278477

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Grounded in the narrative of the loss of his own wife, Ross Hastings seeks to provide insight into the universal human condition of loss and grief . . . and speaks comfort. All kinds of losses produce grief--loss of jobs, homes, friendships, health, losses through divorce, and loss through death of parents, children, and spouses--and we are often unprepared for it. Applicable to all who go through loss, this book will also offer skills for pastors, pastors-in-training, and friends seeking to offer comfort to grieving people. It will weave together first-order theological, as well as integrated psychological insights that relate to loss and grieving, interspersed with personal stories. The ultimately redemptive nature of grief is highlighted, with sensitivity to the grieving process. It offers comfort for the grieving found in fresh awareness of the orientation and action of the triune God who is for us, who invites us to participate in his life and love, and gathers up our grief, and in Christ, suffers with us. It beckons us towards spiritual attentiveness, permission for emotional honesty, normalization of the grief process, practices that enable coping and redemptive transformation in the present, and hope grounded in future resurrection reality.


Disciplines of the Holy Spirit

Disciplines of the Holy Spirit

Author: Siang-Yang Tan

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2010-06-15

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 0310872006

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Connect with the life-changing ministry of the Holy Spirit. Disciples of the Holy Spirit shows how a dynamic, close walk with God can be yours each day through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As the energizer of your faith, the Spirit wants to bring you into a transforming communion with Christ. He wants to empower you to love your enemies, live without fear, and give generously out of an inner abundance. Your part? Simply yielding to him through the following spiritual disciplines: Solitude--helping you draw near to God for spiritual growth and vigor Surrender--helping you surrender to God's will and purpose for your life, preparing you for effective ministry Service--helping you move into fellowship with others and partnership with God in reaching a broken world As you practice the spiritual disciplines, your concept of what it means to be a Christian will acquire a new, life-changing dimension. You'll grow closer to Jesus--and your life will increasingly reflect the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. "Dr. Tan always has something worthwhile to say. His passion for people, life, and God, combined with his extensive professional knowledge make this book an important read." - Larry Crabb Jr., PhD, counselor and bestselling author "A passionate, fresh guide for how Christians can grow in Christ through the traditional spiritual disciplines. Believers of differing theological backgrounds will find encouragement and wisdom." - Stanton L. Jones, PhD, author of the God's Design for Sex book series Dr. Siang-Yang Tan is senior pastor of First Evangelical Church in Glendale, California. He is also associate professor of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary, a licensed psychologist, and the author of Lay Counseling: Equipping Christians for a Helping Ministry. He lives in Arcadia, California. Dr. Douglas Gregg is former director of the Office of Christian Community at Fuller Theological Seminary and a training specialist with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is the coauthor of Inner Healing: A Handbook for Helping Yourself & Others and lives in Los Angeles.


My Brother's Keeper

My Brother's Keeper

Author: Thomas J. Marinello

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2010-01-01

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 1725245027

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My Brother's Keeper is a collection of essays penned by people interested in educating primarily European church leaders, theological educators, and missionaries as well as other Christian leaders from around the world. All of the authors are related to the ministries of Tyndale Theological Seminary, the Netherlands. This book is in honor of missionary Hebrew scholar and colleague, Ellis R. Brotzman upon his retirement. Included is material from the fields of biblical studies, theological studies, and pastoral ministries and missions. The articles represent a sampling of the type of teaching provided at Tyndale since its beginnings in 1985 as well as a taste of the ongoing research of some of its members. Most of the authors have many decades of experience primarily as missionary professors throughout Europe. Others include those with pastoral ministry experience in Europe and North America. Theological educators, local church leaders, and cross-cultural workers will find this a worthwhile addition to their personal and school libraries.