Updated with Discussion Questions and Two Bonus Chapters When you say "I do," you begin the journey of a lifetime— and you have dreams of that journey being perfect. But it won't take long for expectations of the perfect marriage to fade away in the struggles of everyday life. A long-term, vibrant marriage needs to be grounded in something sturdier than romance—it needs the life-changing power of the gospel. In this rebranded edition of What Did You Expect?, popular author and pastor Paul David Tripp encourages couples to make six biblical commitments to the Lord and to one another. These commitments, which include a lifestyle of confession and forgiveness, building trust, and appreciating differences, will equip couples to cultivate thriving, joy-filled marriages built on Christ.
What if We’ve Got This Purity Thing All Wrong? In Young and In Love, pastor, author, and speaker Ted Cunningham boldly argues that young love should be celebrated, even promoted. Early marriages can be God’s will and often provide the key to sexual purity. With this in mind, Cunningham shares the secrets to a successful early marriage with those in their late teens and early twenties who are in love. This book suits anyone experiencing young love who struggles with naysayers who dismiss or hinder a God-designed relationship. It also addresses young adults who struggle with the teachings of other popular books on abstinence or on delaying dating or marriage. And it offers parents and pastors who feel concerned about a relationship a source of wise counsel that carefully prepares young adults for a godly marriage.
Marriage always involves two flawed people living with each other in a fallen world. Yet many couples say “I do” with unrealistic expectations, leaving them unprepared for the day-to-day difficulties of married life. This unique book introduces a biblical and practical approach to dealing with the challenges of marriage that is rooted in God’s faithfulness and the Bible’s teaching on sin and grace. Outlining six practical commitments that give shape and momentum to a truly healthy and fulfilling union, this redesigned book will equip couples to develop thriving, grace-based marriages in all circumstances and seasons of their relationships.
A Historical Examination of Christian Theology through a Trinitarian Framework Theology is important. But so is the story behind the specific doctrines that have been debated, defined, and refined throughout church history. In this book, professor Gerald Bray introduces readers to the history of Christian theology, the Trinity (our doctrine of God), and the Bible (our knowledge of God). Unlike other books on the topic, Bray's volume is not organized primarily by time period or distinct doctrinal categories. Rather, it puts theology first and history second, following a Trinitarian pattern that begins with God the Father, moves on to God the Son, and ends with God the Holy Spirit. This unique approach offers readers a more holistic understanding of the development of theology, paralleling the order in which the church wrestled through challenging theological issues and controversies related to God, man, and salvation. Accessible: Aimed at non-specialists, not just the academic community Unique Organization: Uses a Trinitarian framework to provide a more holistic understanding of the development of theology Historical: Explores the Jewish background behind the development of Christian theology Written by Gerald Bray: An internationally renowned historian and theologian Replaces ISBN 978-1-4335-2694-7
A Clear Outline of Basic Christianity from Theologian J. I. Packer Followers of Christ grow spiritually by learning and living out the essentials of their faith, which are often taken for granted or overlooked in daily life. Renowned theologian J. I. Packer believed that Christianity is not automatic and must be learned by new believers and mature Christians alike. In Growing in Christ, Packer offers readers an easy-to-follow road map for studying theological topics, including the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and baptism. Each chapter helps both new and lifelong believers examine what Packer calls "the intellectual ABCs" of the gospel so they can grow in faith. Covers Christian Themes in Depth: Including Christian convictions, communion with God, and code of conduct Great for Individual or Group Study: Each chapter ends with study questions and Bible passages Accessible: Written for Christians of all backgrounds and denominations, as well as the newly converted
Paul David Tripp's Bestselling Devotional Features 365 Gospel-Centered Readings for the Whole Year Mornings can be tough. Sometimes, a hearty breakfast and strong cup of coffee just aren't enough. Offering far more than a rush of caffeine, bestselling author Paul David Tripp aims to energize Christian readers with the most potent encouragement imaginable: the gospel. In the popular devotional New Morning Mercies, 365 engaging readings lead off with a compelling, gospel-centered thought, followed by an extended meditation for the day. Focused less on behavior modification and more on helping people encounter the living God, this resource equips readers with the good news that they need to trust in God's goodness, rely on his grace, and live for his glory—day in and day out. 365 Engaging Devotionals: Each daily reading includes questions for personal reflection and application, guidelines for prayer, and a list of relevant biblical passages for further study Popular Daily Devotional: Over 1 million copies sold Written by Paul David Tripp: Author of several books, including Lead; Reactivity; and Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional
This irreverent manifesto sparked both conversation and controversy when it made its debut as a hardcover in 2009. From essays in The Wall Street Journal to debates in the blogosphere, women weighed in on the book's provocative message, which ultimately challenges the ideals and assumptions we've blindly accepted about love and marriage. Smart Girls Marry Money is a hard-hitting indictment on society (peppered with plenty of wry observations) that empowers women with a new way to take control of their economic and romantic lives. Now in a paperback edition, there will be more ''smart Girls'' who will join in on the heated debate on how we can make healthier (and wealthier!) marriages.
Timothy and Kathy Keller will show you a portrait of marriage as it's meant to be according to the Bible...by first throwing out most of what we've been taught about love. Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that marriage does not mean 'til death do us part, but merely for as long as my needs are being met; and that when serious differences arise, divorce is the best solution. But all of these modern-day assumptions miss what marriage is really about. In this six-session video-based Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Timothy Keller, along with Kathy, his wife of forty years, draws a profound portrait of marriage from the pages of Scripture that neither idealizes nor rejects the institution but points us back to the relationship between God and man. The result is a vision for marriage that is refreshingly frank and unsentimental, yet hopeful and beautiful. This study is for anyone from singles to couples considering marriage to those who have been married for any length of time. Sessions include: Service: Marriage Isn't about You Covenant: Created to Make Promises Roles: Loving through Mutual Submission Singleness: Strengthening the Spiritual Family Sex: The Act of Covenant Renewal Hope: Seeing the Great Horizon Designed for use with The Meaning of Marriage Video Study (sold separately).
For more than half a century, marketers have bombarded customers with more and more choices in products and services. What is the result? Unprecedented anxiety. Our mental circuit breakers are on overload. In fact, pioneering brand strategists Steven M. Cristol and Peter Sealey assert that we have reached our manageable threshold for making decisions -- and a watershed in product proliferation. In this pathbreaking book, the authors argue with compelling evidence that the next generation of marketing successes will belong to those brands that simplify customers' lives or businesses in ways that are inextricably tied to brand and product positioning. They contend that if a brand is not reducing customer stress, it is creating it -- and it is vulnerable to losing market share to more customer-empathetic competitors. Writing especially for product or brand managers who are struggling to simplify their portfolios, Cristol and Sealey have created a breakthrough framework that is itself a lesson in simplicity. After presenting two essential guideposts for managers to assess where their brand sits on the stress spectrum, the authors turn to the heart of Simplicity Marketing -- the 4 R's of simplification: Replace, Repackage, Reposition, and Replenish. Using scores of real-world company examples, Cristol and Sealey show how each of the 4 R's interacts with the others in powerful ways to relieve customer stress and how these strategies may be executed individually or in combination to build brand loyalty. Here for the first time are ten specific strategies to relieve customer stress through consolidating, aggregating, or integrating products and services, repositioning brands for more relevance to stress reduction, and decluttering customers' decision-making requirements. The final pages of this brilliant manifesto for a simplicity revolution provide a guide to managing simplicity strategies, leveraging information technology to simplify rather than complicate customers' lives, and integrating all the tools in the book into an executional blueprint.
