The Lord Jesus Christ is the Great Lesson of our spiritual education and the Holy Spirit the Great Teacher. The teaching is not of things, but an inward making Christ a part of us by daily experiences. God wants us to live our original design to bring us to where we were before Adam’s fall. Though we would never attain absolute perfection here, we continue to press toward the Goal without dying along the way.
Learning Christ represents a thorough reevaluation of Ignatius as author and theologian, demonstrating that his seven authentic letters present a sophisticated and cohesive vision of the economy of redemption. Gregory Vall argues that Ignatius s thought represents a vital synthesis of Pauline, Johannine, and Matthean perspectives while anticipating important elements of later patristic theology. Topics treated in this volume include Ignatius s soteriological anthropology, his Christology and nascent Trinitarianism, his nuanced understanding of the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, and his ecclesiology and eschatology.
In this unique account of growth in grace, 'babes', 'little children', 'young men' and 'fathers' are the stages through which the learners in Christ's school pass on their way to the 'academy of heaven.'
“The Heidelberg Catechism does not represent a different theological orientation... here the Reformed Church confesses the good news of Jesus Christ in. a joyful, thankful, free, personal way . . . Barth has caught this spirit in his commentary. To read it is to become acquainted with a side of Reformed Protestantism which all too often has remained hidden.” - from the Preface The two short studies by renowned theologian Karl Barth included here were first published in 1964, the 400th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism—a classical document of the Reformation Period. Students, ministers, laypersons, and theologians continue to find these essays helpful, for they provide not only an introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism, but also a brief, systematic presentation of Reformed theology in the 16th century and a glimpse of Barth’s own theology on the 20th century. The first essay, “Christian Doctrine According to the Heidelberg Catechism,” is a question by question interpretation, commentary, and evaluation of the catechism. “Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism,” the second essay, examines the three basic questions of the document: Who is the Comforter? Who is comforted? and How is comfort given and in what does it consist?
We are only happy when we pursue a transcendent purpose, something larger than ourselves. This pursuit involves a deeply meaningful relationship with God by committed participation in the spiritual disciplines. The Lost Virtue of Happiness takes a fresh, meaningful look at the spiritual disciplines, offering concrete examples of ways you can make them practical and life-transforming.
What can Jesus teach us about praying into the heart of the Father? This powerful book shows how we can use the Scriptures to unite our hearts with God’s will. Scripture scholar Leonard DeLorenzo invites us to take a deep dive into Scripture and discover how to pray from the greatest teacher of all—Jesus.
The Apostle Paul was the greatest early missionary of the Christian gospel. He was also, by his own admission, an Israelite. How can both these realities coexist in one individual? This book argues that Paul viewed his mission to the Gentiles, in and of itself, as the primary expression of his Jewish identity. The concept of Israel’s divine vocation is used to shed fresh light on a number of much-debated passages in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Some Christians are satisfied with an “Arrived Jesus,” a Jesus who had fully arrived at the moment of his birth in Bethlehem. He had nothing to learn, nothing to discover, no choices to make, and no place to go except to follow God’s tight script for his life. His life was static. Yet, other Christians believe in a “Becoming Jesus,” a Jesus who faced many crossroads and decision points, struggles and crises, all of which shaped his faithful response to God. This “Learning Jesus” was born into a world of stereotypes and bias and he, like others, had to overcome these human boundaries in order to become the Savior of the world. Jesus was an imaginative learner and an inspiring teacher. Like all human beings, he was a human becoming.
In her classic book, Elisabeth Elliot candidly shares her love story with Jim Elliot through letters, diary entries, and memories. She is honest about the temptations, difficulties, victories, and sacrifices of two young people whose commitment to Christ took priority over their love for each other. These revealing personal glimpses, combined with relevant biblical teaching, will remind readers that only by putting their human passion and desire through His fire can God purify their love. In a culture obsessed with dating, sex, and intimacy, the need for Elliot's freeing message is greater than ever. This beautifully repackaged edition will appeal to today's young people.
We live in a precarious time when many are questioning the necessity of formal theological education for ministers. Theology, Church, and Ministry: A Handbook for Theological Education helps readers understand the critical role theological education plays in equipping God-called ministers for service in the church. This distinct resource explains both the development and purpose of theological education as well as its role in student formation. The contributors include outstanding thinkers and leaders in the field of theological education, including Con Campbell, Tim Tennent, Mark Bailey, Kevin Vanhoozer, Dan Block, Robert Smith, Dana Harris, Malcolm Yarnell, Danny Akin, and Greg Wills, among others.
