The Scandal of the Kingdom

The Scandal of the Kingdom

Author: Dallas Willard

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2024-10-15

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 0310367956

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A major new work by Dallas Willard, the highly anticipated follow-up to his seminal work The Divine Conspiracy. In this groundbreaking book based on teachings he delivered to a church community, Willard delves into the transformative power of Jesus's parables, revealing how they show us how to live right now in the kingdom of God. Drawing from his extensive teachings on spiritual formation, Willard illuminates the timeless wisdom contained within each parable, revealing their profound relevance to contemporary life. With clarity and depth, he guides readers through the subversive messages embedded within these seemingly simple stories, urging us to break free from the grip of worldly values and embrace the radical teachings of Jesus. The Scandal of the Kingdom is not just a book--it's a call to action. Willard challenges readers to move beyond passive acceptance of comfortable dogmas and instead to actively engage with the values of the kingdom of God. He reminds us that the kingdom is not some distant future destination but a present reality, beckoning us, as the parables of Jesus did, to live with a new purpose and intentionality in the here and now. Through insightful analysis and practical wisdom, Willard empowers readers to transform their lives and communities by embodying the radical love, compassion, and justice exemplified in Jesus's parables. This book is a beacon of hope for Christians seeking to deepen their faith and live more authentically in accordance with the teachings of Christ. Willard empowers us to: Become more passionate about living the gospel in the full scope of Jesus's vision for us Better share the faith of Jesus with those disillusioned with Christianity Unlock the excitement of living in the upside-down kingdom of God Share the gospel of Jesus in the way he did A significant new resource for Christians worldwide, this book offers a road map for spiritual growth and renewal in an increasingly complex and challenging world. With its profound insights and transformative message, it is destined to leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of believers everywhere.


Unfinished

Unfinished

Author: Richard Stearns

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 2014-01-14

Total Pages: 287

ISBN-13: 0849964393

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Believing Is Only the Beginning Do you long for a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in your life? Do you believe all the right things, go to church, and faithfully read your Bible, still feeling that something is missing? You may be right. Two thousand years ago Jesus gave an urgent assignment to his followers right before he left. At its essence it was not just an invitation to believe; it was a bold call to action. It was a challenge to go into the world to reclaim, reform, and restore it for Christ. Simply stated, the message of this book is that God has invited you to join him in this world-changing mission. And if you are not personally participating in God’s great endeavor, you could be missing the very thing he created you to do. Best-selling author Rich Stearns invites you not just to stand on the sidelines but to get into the game. That is when the adventure begins. “Unfinished, just might challenge everything you thought you understood about your Christian faith. Unfinished is a call to finish the job Christ gave his church to do. If every Christian read this book and took it seriously, the world would never be the same again.”—Bill Hybels, senior pastor, Willow Creek Community Church; and chairman, Willow Creek Association “Just when I’ve gotten comfortable with my faith, here comes Rich Stearns, reminding me what matters and who God loves and why. Just when my world is the way I want it, Rich reminds me the world is not the way God wants it. Hungry families. Malnourished kids. Just when I dare think my work is done, Rich reminds me that we are just getting started. First in The Hole in Our Gospel, now in Unfinished, Rich gives me a kind, gracious kick. Thanks, Rich. (I think.)”—Max Lucado, pastor and best-selling author “Okay, admit it: sometimes you wonder . . . don’t you? Is this it? The life you’re living. Is there more? From his journey in corporate and nonprofit leadership—in very good causes—Rich Stearns concludes there is, indeed, more. More purpose. More meaning. More life. In Unfinished you will discover how your life can be about more.”—Elisa Morgan, author; speaker; publisher, FullFill; and president emerita, MOPS International “Rich Stearns has done it again! In this winsome, engaging, and challenging book, he calls us back to some of the key issues of what it means to be followers of Christ in a world full of distractions and false gods. This is a book for everyone, about finding the place of our calling in God’s global mission. It is a book about fulfillment, adventure, and a lifetime of transformation. It made me hungry for more of the life God has in store for us.”—Dr. Stephen Hayner, president, Columbia Theological Seminary “Your story can be a part of the Great Story. Rich Stearns knows the story and lives the story. Unfinished may call you to the greatest chapter of your life.”—John Ortberg, senior pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church; and author, Who Is This Man? “The kingdom is both already and not yet, the work of Christ both finished and to be completed. Stearns reminds readers of every Christian’s responsibility to live on mission, in light of Jesus’ example and call. Richard shows us by his life, the ministry he leads, and the passion of this book that there is much to be done and we are to be a part of God’s grand plan.”—Ed Stetzer, president, LifeWay Research; and author, Subversive Kingdom “Every generation of Christians needs a wake-up call to remind us of how serious and strenuous are the demands of discipleship. May Rich Stearns’s Unfinished be that alarm for our time.”—David Neff, editorial vice president, Christianity Today


Outposts

Outposts

Author: Simon Winchester

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2003-06-05

Total Pages: 469

ISBN-13: 0141011890

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in 1985 Simon Winchester, struck by a sudden need to discover exactly what was left of the British Empire, set out across the globe to visit the far-flung islands that are all that remain of what once made Britain great. He travelled 100,000 miles back and forth from Antarctica to the Caribbean, from Mediterranean to the Far East, to capture a last glint of imperial glory. His adventures in these distant and forgotten ends of the earth make compelling and often funny reading and tell a story most of us had thought was over: a tale of the last outposts in Britain's imperial career and of those who keep the flag flying. With a new introduction and additional material in many of the chapters, this revised edition tells us what happened to these extraordinary places while the author's been away.


The First World Empire

The First World Empire

Author: Hélder Carvalhal

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-04-05

Total Pages: 302

ISBN-13: 1000372820

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This book offers a comprehensive overview of the early modern military history of Portugal and its possessions in Africa, the Americas, and Asia from the perspective of the military revolution historiographical debate. The existence of a military revolution in the early modern period has been much debated in international historiography, and this volume fills a significant gap in its relation to the history of Portugal and its overseas empire. It examines different forms of military change in specifically Portuguese case studies but also adopts a global perspective through the analysis of different contexts and episodes in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Contributors explore whether there is evidence of what could be defined as aspects of a military revolution or whether other explanatory models are needed to account for different forms of military change. In this way, it offers the reader a variety of perspectives that contribute to the debate over the applicability of the military revolution concept to Portugal and its empire during the early modern period. Broken down into four thematic parts and broad in both chronological and geographical scope, the book deepens our understanding of the art of warfare in Portugal and its empire and demonstrates how the military revolution debate can be used to examine military change in a global perspective. This is an essential text for scholars and students of military history, military architecture, global history, Asian history, and the history of Iberian empires.


The Kingdom of Light

The Kingdom of Light

Author: Samuel Bowyer-Frost

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Published: 2014-03-13

Total Pages: 189

ISBN-13: 1491897082

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The Heath-Hill Empire is on the brink of war, and its fate rests on the actions of two brilliant young battle commanders: Commander Jack Smith and Commander Sam Warner. When their imperial armies march into the Kingdom of Light, the loyalties of every officer will be tested more than anyone could have anticipated, and the fate of both the Kingdom of Light and the Heath-Hill Empire will be decided by the decisions of such officers. In this test of armies and principles, the gigantic Heath-Hill Empire seems poised to destroy the tiny Kingdom of Light. However, one cannot underestimate the will of the people who live in the tribal kingdom. Both Commander Jack Smith and Commander Sam Warner must eventually decide what they are really willing to die for and what they will fight to protect.


The Mission of the Church

The Mission of the Church

Author: Craig Ott

Publisher: Baker Books

Published: 2016-08-02

Total Pages: 302

ISBN-13: 1493405772

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Leading Voices from across Christian Traditions Discuss the Mission of the Church What is the mission of the church? Every seminarian and church leader must wrestle with that question. No matter what designation a church uses to describe itself, it must also think critically about why it exists and what it should be doing. In this book, five leading voices representing a range of Christian traditions engage in an enlightening conversation as they present and compare their perspectives on the mission of the church. Each contributor offers his or her view and responds to the other four views. Contributors include Stephen B. Bevans, Darrell L. Guder, Ruth Padilla DeBorst, Edward Rommen, and Ed Stetzer. The book's format is ideal for classroom use and will also benefit pastors and church leaders.


Foundations for Fruitful Church Planting

Foundations for Fruitful Church Planting

Author: Ken L. Davis

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2023-07-28

Total Pages: 329

ISBN-13: 1666749192

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Church planting is one of the most challenging yet rewarding adventures you can embark on. Often zealous planters and their teams launch their new church prematurely, without taking time to lay a firm foundation for long-term fruitful ministry. Failure to do so often results in a weakened new church, or even the new church closing after a few years. Rather than focusing on methodology, the how to’s of church planting, this book gives attention to six foundational concerns wise planters will need to nail down before they ever plant: •Biblical foundations, •Theological foundations, • Ecclesiological foundations, • Missiological foundations, •Spiritual foundations, •Practical foundations. Although helpful for a wide range of planting leaders, this book is particularly written for four specific groups: •those who feel called to plant and are making preparations; •their planting teammates and launch leaders; •those exploring church planting; •those who coach and train church planters. Foundations for Fruitful Church Planting serves as a comprehensive resource that will guide you to think strategically, plan carefully, and prepare thoroughly to birth a healthy, growing, and reproducing congregation. Each chapter includes recommended resources, discussion questions, and follow-through exercises.


The Return of the Kingdom

The Return of the Kingdom

Author: Stephen G. Dempster

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2024-03-19

Total Pages: 180

ISBN-13: 0830842934

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In this ESBT volume, Stephen Dempster traces the themes of kingship and kingdom throughout Scripture, illuminating the challenges, pain, and ultimate hope that the Bible offers. The story of God's kingship is ultimately the fulfillment of a promise to defeat sin and death and to establish a world of peace and justice.


The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches (The Complete Tetralogy)

The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches (The Complete Tetralogy)

Author: Robert Stanek

Publisher: RM Publishing

Published: 2015-11-01

Total Pages: 1197

ISBN-13: 162716443X

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4 complete novels, over 1,000 pages in print, full-color artwork. Enter a world of titans and dragons, men and elves. The #1 Fiction bestseller! From #1 bestselling author Robert Stanek, the complete fantasy series that has been read and enjoyed by readers all over the world. BOOK #1 - Three unlikely heroes have the power to change everything. This powerful fantasy novel will delight the young and the young at heart. Inside, you'll discover the breathtaking world of Ruin Mist where the mystical and the magical abound, and you'll fall in love with a boy who would become a mage, a princess who is fleeing a dying kingdom, and a warrior elf who undertakes an epic journey. BOOK #2 takes us deeper into the unraveling mysteries of a world being torn apart by unseen hands and ancient prophecies. Thirteen-year-old Adrina finally got her wish to journey beyond Imtal, but at a cost that weighs upon her soul. Vilmos’s epic journey into manhood continues. Though he was forced to confront the powers within himself and to flee the only home he’s ever known, he trudges on. Meanwhile, betrayed by his own people, Seth fights to survive against all odds. BOOK #3 takes us one step further into the unraveling mysteries of a world being torn apart by ancient prophecies and the machinations of warring peoples. Galan, the beautiful lady elf, is dying. Her life hangs by the barest of threads and only Seth can save her. Vilmos’s decision to train as a mage has come at a great price and now he must journey with Xith to the Mouth of the World. BOOK #4 brings to a close the epic fantasy adventure of Adrina, Vilmos and Seth. Vilmos finds himself lost to the darkness within himself and at odds with everything he has even known. Back in Imtal, Adrina and Valam work together to turn more kingdomers and council members to the cause of the elves. Meanwhile, Emel has undertaken a journey to find answers about the Orb of Power. *** Fully linked and cross-linked with links to individual books and chapters within books. Extras: Lost chapters and scenes restored; the meeting of Xith and Vilmos as originally written; the story of Ruin Mist completely unaltered to hint at the story's origins in ancient myth and legend. "Sure to attract fans of graphic novels and classic Tolkien alike. Stanek will likely draw a cult following. This guarantees fans, and those fans will be ready to wield their swords against the Dark Lord in Stanek's next installment." -- VOYA, the leading magazine for Young Adult librarians. "Robert Stanek is one of our most featured and respected Kids & Young Adults authors." -- The Audio Book Store "Word of mouth turned it into a bestseller. Very satisfying." -- The Fantasy Guide "A breathtaking world and an excellent epic fantasy series! This wonderful adventure reminds me of a cross between J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Tad Williams, and C. S. Lewis." "Stanek [has] a penchant for clear and simple prose. He also prefers swift, action-oriented scenes. Solidly built. Stanek moves among his main characters with ease, always switching at a climactic moment to maintain suspense. The accessible, brisk language keeps things moving." --Foreword Magazine


Complete Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches: The Complete Series

Complete Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches: The Complete Series

Author: Robert Stanek

Publisher: RP Books & Audio

Published: 2014-11-01

Total Pages: 1226

ISBN-13: 1575454351

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4 complete novels. Enter a world of titans and dragons, men and elves. Two strangers will become friends. Their world will be transformed. Read their story. Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books... Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4: Winds of Change Seeds of Dissent Pawn of Dragons Tower of Destiny In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4: A Clash of Heroes A Dance of Swords A Storm of Shields A Reign of Dragons Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2: The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door A Legacy of Dragons Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2: Breath of Fire Living Fire A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4: Betrayal Deliverance Rebirth Discord Magic Lands Journey Beyond the Beyond Into the Stone Land