What prompted the Samaritan man to pause? Why did Jesus prefer Mary's actions over Martha's? And the seventy-two anonymous recruits in Luke 10, who were they? In our personal lives and as a church, a life geared toward service is the best way to live. So what does it look like to live a serve-oriented life? How would the church shift its influence if it loved through action? A life of service can be different. When we are tired, and our schedules are haggard and crazy. It's hard to put others before ourselves. And yet, at the end of the day we question the big things like purpose and contentment. We wonder, "How could this look different?" In SERVE, we dive into Luke 10 and discover that Jesus was the advocate and voice of "SERVE." From watching Him, we learn what it looks like to serve with excitement, creativity, excellence, discipline, vigor ... and yes, even how to take rest stops along the way. Join the journey and learn how to put others first in a me-first world.
What prompted the Samaritan man to pause? Why did Jesus prefer Marys actions over Marthas? And the seventy-two anonymous recruits in Luke 10, who were they? In our personal lives and as a church, a life geared toward service is the best way to live. So what does it look like to live a serve-oriented life? How would the church shift its influence if it loved through action? A life of service can be different. When we are tired, and our schedules are haggard and crazy. It's hard to put others before ourselves. And yet, at the end of the day we question the big things like purpose and contentment. We wonder, "How could this look different?" In SERVE, we dive into Luke 10 and discover that Jesus was the advocate and voice of SERVE. From watching Him, we learn what it looks like to serve with excitement, creativity, excellence, discipline, vigor and yes, even how to take rest stops along the way. Join the journey and learn how to put others first in a me-first world.
Do You Need Greater Self-Esteem–Or Something Else Entirely? Western culture increasingly emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-esteem. Many of us believe we must “find” ourselves–and feel good about what we see–before we can experience significant spiritual growth. Focusing so much on ourselves, however, distracts us from pursuing the only source of true fulfillment. Do we, as God’s people, really need to love ourselves more? Or is there a wiser, biblical path that can lead us to joy that is not self-centered and fleeting, but God-focused and lasting? Challenging the current fascination with self esteem, Leslie Vernick answers these questions and others that trip up Christians today. Offering surprising insights and practical helps that can make a real difference in your life, she shows how you can experience greater personal, relational, and spiritual growth while humbly adoring and glorifying your God.
Do You Need Greater Self-Esteem–Or Something Else Entirely? Western culture increasingly emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-esteem. Many of us believe we must “find” ourselves–and feel good about what we see–before we can experience significant spiritual growth. Focusing so much on ourselves, however, distracts us from pursuing the only source of true fulfillment. Do we, as God’s people, really need to love ourselves more? Or is there a wiser, biblical path that can lead us to joy that is not self-centered and fleeting, but God-focused and lasting? Challenging the current fascination with self esteem, Leslie Vernick answers these questions and others that trip up Christians today. Offering surprising insights and practical helps that can make a real difference in your life, she shows how you can experience greater personal, relational, and spiritual growth while humbly adoring and glorifying your God.
In a world where children are bombarded with conflicting messages, both moms and dads must become the primary teachers of their children. Curtis addresses media, technology, consumerism, sexual purity, selfishness, and other factors that form children in society.
Now more than ever, the world is hungry to gather and thirsty for connection. Many of us wish to share a meal, share our faith, and share our lives with others. We want to open our home to friends and neighbors for the sake of meaningful community, but we're overwhelmed with hospitality hang-ups. How do I extend an invitation? What will they think of my house or the food? Our welcome has been influenced by the messages of the world that tell us hospitality is about our ability to be, host, live, and cook a certain way. In Gather and Give, Amy Hannon inspires you to embrace the simple hospitality of the Bible that values connection more than perfection and people more than presentation. Amy shares scriptural principles and practical ideas to make everyday hospitality a natural, joy-filled part of your life. You will feel encouraged and equipped to view your home as: a holy wellspring of welcome to offer hope to a weary world; a strategic springboard for ministering to those around you; and the perfect platform for influencing others for Christ. Find freedom in knowing that the hospitality of the Bible is uncomplicated and effortless, that a welcome can be used by God to share His love and hope with the world, and that there is abounding joy in following the Lord in His hospitality command. Whether preparing shrimp and grits for a crowd or picking up barbecue with new neighbors, you can invite with intention, plate with purpose, and love others well.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • NAMED ONE OF TIME’S TEN BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE DECADE • PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF OPRAH’S “BOOKS THAT HELP ME THROUGH” • NOW AN HBO ORIGINAL SPECIAL EVENT Hailed by Toni Morrison as “required reading,” a bold and personal literary exploration of America’s racial history by “the most important essayist in a generation and a writer who changed the national political conversation about race” (Rolling Stone) NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN • NAMED ONE OF PASTE’S BEST MEMOIRS OF THE DECADE • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • O: The Oprah Magazine • The Washington Post • People • Entertainment Weekly • Vogue • Los Angeles Times • San Francisco Chronicle • Chicago Tribune • New York • Newsday • Library Journal • Publishers Weekly In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nation’s history and current crisis. Americans have built an empire on the idea of “race,” a falsehood that damages us all but falls most heavily on the bodies of black women and men—bodies exploited through slavery and segregation, and, today, threatened, locked up, and murdered out of all proportion. What is it like to inhabit a black body and find a way to live within it? And how can we all honestly reckon with this fraught history and free ourselves from its burden? Between the World and Me is Ta-Nehisi Coates’s attempt to answer these questions in a letter to his adolescent son. Coates shares with his son—and readers—the story of his awakening to the truth about his place in the world through a series of revelatory experiences, from Howard University to Civil War battlefields, from the South Side of Chicago to Paris, from his childhood home to the living rooms of mothers whose children’s lives were taken as American plunder. Beautifully woven from personal narrative, reimagined history, and fresh, emotionally charged reportage, Between the World and Me clearly illuminates the past, bracingly confronts our present, and offers a transcendent vision for a way forward.
Catch the vision beyond yourself...and come face-to-face with the cause of Christ. Just as you peer into a mirror and see your reflection, author Kathi Macias in Beyond Me invites you to delve into Scripture and come face-to-face with the power of God's Word as He reveals to you the image of a true disciple. If you are dissatisfied with your present spiritual condition, Beyond Me will help you understand the calling, the costs, and the benefits of true discipleship. As you read the powerful stories and embrace the practical insights on how to model a life focused on God and others, you will begin to reflect the image of a true disciple--one who seeks an intimate relationship with the Lord and His people, and one who serves Him and others with your whole heart. As a result, those around you will see the reflection of Christ. *** "Kathi Macias's Beyond Me gently reaches out to readers and says, 'There is more for you in the Christian life.' No matter where we are on the spiritual pathway, she warmly encourages us to keep moving forward. Her section on the parable of the prodigal son, for example, contains some of the most insightful writing I've read in a long time." --Cecil Murphey, best-selling author of 90 Minutes in Heaven and more than 100 other books.
A surprising take on how you can help tackle the really big problems in society–from one of America’s most successful entrepreneurs. People are looking for a better way. Towering barriers are holding millions of people back, and the institutions that should help everyone rise are not doing the job. Crumbling communities. One-size fits all education. Businesses that rig the economy. Public policy that stifles opportunity and emboldens the extremes. As a result, this country is quickly heading toward a two-tiered society. Today’s challenges call for nothing short of a paradigm shift – away from a top-down approach that sees people as problems to be managed, toward bottom-up solutions that empower everyone to realize their potential and foster a more inclusive society. Such a shift starts by asking: What would it mean to truly believe in people? Businessman and philanthropist Charles Koch has devoted his life to answering that question. Learn what he’s discovered during his 60-year career to help you apply the principles of empowerment in your life, in your business, and in society. By learning from the social movements and applying the principles that have enabled social progress throughout history, Koch has achieved more than he dreamed possible – building one of the world’s most successful companies and founding Stand Together, one of America’s most innovative philanthropic communities. Stand Together CEO Brian Hooks and Koch show how the only way to solve the really big problems – from poverty and addiction to harmful business practices and destructive public policy – is for each and every one of us to find and take action in our unique role as part of the solution. Full of compelling examples of what works – including several first-person accounts from individuals whose lives have been transformed – Koch and Hooks’ refreshing approach promotes partnership instead of partisanship and speaks to people from different perspectives and all walks of life. They show that no injustice is too tough to overcome if you share a deep belief in people, are willing to unite with anyone to do right, and work to empower others from the bottom up.
