Martyn Lloyd-Jones delves into the truths found in Acts 4:8-5:16 and presents a message that speaks to the convictions of every reader. Second in the four-volume Studies in the Book of Acts series.
"I'm just so busy and tired." These words fall from your lips as easy and often as your next breath. You're weary of your packed schedule and frenetic pace and responsibilities at every turn. Even good things no longer feel life-giving. You long for a simpler life. You want to be able to face daily burdens and the chaos of this world and say with confidence, "It is well with my soul." But how? (in)courage is ready to come alongside you through Courageous Simplicity, a six-session Bible study on living in the simple abundance of Jesus. This study will help you release control of what frays your soul and will lead you to true refreshment. As you train in the spiritual practice of simplicity, you will discover the God who loves you lavishly and wants to show you how to live with a heart open and surrendered to his presence. You can live in the peace and freedom of having and being enough. Let your friends at (in)courage show you how.
The Courageous Gospel is intended for use alongside a commentary (Ashton, Brown, Bultmann, Barrett, other) in a class introducing the Fourth Gospel. The book has four parts:A succinct summary of key matters of introduction;A collection of sermons on the Gospel's core chapters, with reflective reminiscence and remembrance of what Raymond Brown said in lecture about the Gospel thirty years ago;A series of background lectures that attempt, on the one hand, to honor the key insights of the current opinion communis (that Jewish apocalyptic explains John) and, on the other hand, to open the door to further insights from an older perspective needed for a full appreciation of John (that the Hellenistic Gnostic background explains John);A set of pedagogical appendices, employable in the classroom, to aid discussion.Together these components attempt to provide the necessary second book for an introduction to the Fourth Gospel, engaging the commentaries with the hermeneutical, homiletical, exegetical, and pastoral implications of a first-level study of John.
Learn from the book of Daniel how to live confidently for Christ today. What does it look like to live with joy in a society that does not like what Christians believe, say or do? It’s tempting to grow angry, keep our heads down, retreat or just give up altogether. But this isn’t the first time that God’s people have had to learn how to live in a pagan world that opposes God’s rule. In this realistic yet positive book, renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg examines the first seven chapters of Daniel to show us how to live bravely, confidently and obediently in an increasingly secular society. Readers will see that God is powerful and God is sovereign, and even in the face of circumstances that appear to be prevailing against his people, we may trust him entirely. We can be as brave as Daniel if we have faith in Daniel’s God! "The message of Daniel is incredibly relevant for us in our generation. Not because it maps out a strategy for how to deal with our new lack of status ... or because Daniel was a great man and we need to follow his example. The reason is that it will help us to believe in Daniel’s God." Alistair Begg, author.
In the new film COURAGEOUS (from the makers of Fireproof), four police officers are confident and focused when it comes to facing danger on the job. But leading their families at home in a God-honoring way? That takes courage. Because it is important to take a faithful, fearless stand in so many areas of life, pastor and COURAGEOUS executive producer Michael Catt offers Courageous Living as a closer look at biblical themes and characters that inspired the greatly anticipated movie. Catt brings fresh insight to "stories of people in the Bible who displayed great courage when it would have been easier to play it safe... (who) challenge me to keep moving forward. They demand that I examine my priorities and deal with anything that brings fear to my heart." Readers will catch a new wind of bravery in the bold accounts of Abraham ("The Courage to Get Going"), Nehemiah ("The Courage to Face Criticism"), and Ruth ("The Courage to Face an Uncertain Future"). There are also growth opportunities in the stirring stories of Moses, Elijah, Joshua, Daniel, Gideon, Nehemiah, Stephen, and Paul and Timothy.
These are the stories of twenty women undaunted by obstacles of language, culture, distance, disease, and isolation, who mobilized from all parts of the world to share the news of Christ. They translated, nursed, taught, and evangelized, laying foundations for the modern Chinese Christian church.
Courage is the foundational virtue required for the Christian life. But often we wonder if we have what it takes to live the vital life Jesus offers his disciples. In Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith, pastor and author Tom Berlin challenges us to unlock the courage that we already possess as Christ followers. By examining the life of Christ, we will begin to understand what true courage is and how God works in the lives of Christ followers as they exhibit a brave faith. Once we have eyes to hear what Jesus is showing us, once have ears to hear, we can begin to find the remarkable life Jesus offers us. The Leader Guide includes session outline for each group meeting with Scripture, prayer, opening activity, discussion questions, activity, and ending call to action.
As a Bible teacher, Gayle had taught for decades about the amazing power of grace in a person's life. Yet it took a crisis in her husband's life and the crumbling of her own life around her for her to have an epiphany about the true nature of grace. In Courageous Grace, Gayle chronicles and explains her newfound insights. Despite common misperceptions, grace is not safe. It's not easy. Frankly, it takes courage to show grace to those who deserve less. Oftentimes, the person showing God's grace gets counted among the sinners, just as Jesus experienced centuries ago. Gayle explores the story of Jesus forgiving the adulterous woman to reveal the courageous side of showing grace. We live in a society that vacillates between glorifying sin and crucifying those who fall. Gayle encourages us to take the road less traveled--daring to do the hard work of showing God's grace to the sinners among us. It's what followers of Christ are called to do.
There's an unspoken tension between happiness and discontentment. You love your family and friends, but complicated relationships drain and discourage you. You're grateful for work but sometimes feel overlooked. You want to follow Jesus yet feel pulled in a dozen different directions. You know God loves you, yet insecurities bully you. The voices of this world are so loud, how can someone possibly hear God's still small voice? The injustice and wounds of this world are so great, how can someone possibly experience lasting joy? Your friends at (in)courage know how you feel and have grappled with these questions too. Find the answers you're looking for in Courageous Joy, a six-week Bible study that celebrates God's goodness and shows you how to experience true joy right where you are. If you want to be able to "rejoice in the Lord always" not just in theory but in everyday practice, if you long for a profound sense of calm and confidence in every season and situation of life, this study will light the way.