Freedom Starts Today

Freedom Starts Today

Author: John Elmore

Publisher: Baker Books

Published: 2021-01-19

Total Pages: 215

ISBN-13: 1493428810

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Every church is filled with people who are struggling--often secretly--with addictions of all kinds. Porn, pills, food, money, alcohol, social media, body image, status, sex, anxiety--the list goes on and on. John Elmore is no stranger to addiction. Fifteen years ago, he put a loaded shotgun to his head and later had three doctors tell him he was going to die of alcoholism. More than 15 sober years later, he leads the world's largest weekly recovery gathering, re:generation, where people journey toward healing in Christ. In Freedom Starts Today, he makes a huge promise to the addicted: you can be free from your struggle, and much sooner than you may think. Through easily digestible readings grounded in Scripture and the practice of daily surrender, Elmore shows you how to break the cycle of addiction, make war against sin, and find your identity in who you are and not the shame of what you have done--one day at a time. Leave behind struggles, addiction, and shame as you walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the love, mercy, and forgiveness of the God who is not only by your side but on your side. **************************** "Revival is a hard thing to quantify, but it always includes a growing devotion to the Lord and repenting of sin. And that is the fire God will start in you as you live out what you'll read within the pages of this book."--Jennie Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head; founder and visionary of IF:Gathering "John has walked the road of recovery and helped countless others do the same. I am thrilled that he has put a resource in our hands that can help all of us!"--Ben Stuart, pastor of Passion City Church DC; author of Single, Dating, Engaged, Married "I've personally witnessed God use John Elmore to set prisoners free by the thousands. The methods in Freedom Starts Today are proven and effective at helping anyone walk in the abundant life that Jesus promises."--Jonathan Pokluda, bestselling author of Welcome to Adulting; host of Becoming Something podcast; pastor of Harris Creek in Waco, TX


The Good and Beautiful Community

The Good and Beautiful Community

Author: James Bryan Smith

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2010-07-21

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 0830861254

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In this Good and Beautiful Series book, James Bryan Smith helps you to live in relationship with others as apprentices of Jesus. He shows how to bring spiritual formation and community engagement together, and he offers spiritual practices that root new, true narratives about God and the world in your soul.


The New Pastor's Handbook

The New Pastor's Handbook

Author: Jason Helopoulos

Publisher: Baker Books

Published: 2015-09-29

Total Pages: 174

ISBN-13: 1493400363

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Most seminary graduates will begin their ministries with plenty of important head knowledge to share--but with a deficit of some of the most practical aspects of doing ministry, such as - which ministry role most suits them - how to start out strong at a new church - persevering during difficult seasons of ministry - leading meetings and delegating tasks - safeguarding their family - fighting discouragement, pastor envy, and a lack of contentment - navigating special ministry needs, such as hospitals, weddings, and funerals - and much more Through his hard-won wisdom, Jason Helopoulos comes alongside new pastors as a trusted friend and mentor, ready to guide them through their first years of ministry with intelligence and compassion.


Eternal Living

Eternal Living

Author: Gary W. Moon

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2014-12-04

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 0830897089

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Curated by Dallas Willard's long-time colleague and friend Gary Moon, this medley of images, snapshots and "Dallas-isms" moves readers toward deeper experiences of God. Whether influenced by him as a family member, friend, professor, philosopher or reformer, contributors bring refreshing insight into his ideas, what shaped him and also his contagious theology of grace and joy.


On Being a Pastor

On Being a Pastor

Author: Derek J. Prime

Publisher: Moody Publishers

Published: 2013-09-17

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13: 0802490735

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The ministry of pastors is not simply a job; it’s a vocation and a lifestyle. A pastor’s responsibilities are unique, demanding that he not only nurture his own spiritual life but also the lives of those in his care. What a challenge this can be! Derek Prime and Alistair Begg provide practical advice for both the spiritual and practical aspects of pastoral ministry. They delve deep into topics such as prayer, devotional habits, preaching, studying, and specific ministry duties. The result is an essential tool for those in pastoral ministry.


Why Churches Need to Talk about Sexuality

Why Churches Need to Talk about Sexuality

Author: Mark Wingfield

Publisher: Fortress Press

Published: 2019-12-03

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 1506458580

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Journalist and pastor Mark Wingfield describes how the congregation he serves undertook a detailed study of how the church should respond to the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members. The study was conducted by a nineteen-member blue-ribbon task force that included wide representation of the church's various constituencies. The author served as a staff liaison, recording secretary, and resource to the study group, keeping meticulous notes of the process and the aftermath of the study. Why Churches Need to Talk about Sexuality is written for clergy and lay leaders in Protestant congregations of all kinds who need a helpful guide to conversations about human sexuality within congregations. The book also has in mind anyone who wants to understand the controversial debates about human sexuality and the Christian church today and who desire to follow a process to discuss the topic and make decisions about how congregations and individuals will respond to matters of ministry and sexuality. This book not only details the process used at Wilshire but also tells the human story of why the study was undertaken and what happened to the lives and faith of real people inside and outside the church. The author's hope is to provide a resource to other clergy and church leaders to understand why this issue must be addressed, how difficult it is to address, and what to expect along the way. As the title indicates, even though this is a difficult conversation to have, churches must have the conversation anyway.


PreachersNSneakers

PreachersNSneakers

Author: Ben Kirby

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 2021-04-27

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 0785238905

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Founder of the phenomenon social media account PreachersNSneakers tackles how faith, capitalism, consumerism, and (wannabe) celebrity have collided and asks both believers and nonbelievers alike: how much is too much? What started as a joke account on Instagram has turned into a movement. Through this provocative project, the founder of PreachersNSneakers is helping thousands of Jesus followers wrestle with the inevitable dilemmas created by our Western culture obsessed with image and entertainment. In PreachersNSneakers: Authenticity in an Age of For-Profit Faith and (Wannabe) Celebrities, Ben Kirby approaches many of the difficult questions plaguing countless Christians’ minds, presenting experiences and input from both sides of difficult questions, such as: Should pastors grow wealthy off of religion, and can their churches ever be too large? Do we really believe that divine blessings are monetary, or is that just religious wallpaper to hide our own greed? Is there space in Christendom for celebrities like Kanye and Bieber to exist without distorting the good news? What about this: Is it wrong for someone—even wrong for author Ben Kirby—to call out faith leaders online and leverage “cancel culture” to affect change? PreachersNSneakers will navigate these challenging questions and many more with humor, wit, candor, and a few never-before-published hijinks. Each chapter will explore the various sides of the debate, holding space for us to make up our own minds. This book is not about finding the perfect, “right” way to do something, but instead learning how to articulate what we believe, why we believe it, and what to do when we want to stand up against cultural norms. This book will doubtlessly become a staple for church small groups, college ministries, and book clubs, emboldening struggling believers who want to live a more genuine faith. After all, the Lord works in mysterious colorways.


With Radiant Hope

With Radiant Hope

Author: George W. Truett

Publisher: Big Bear Books

Published: 2020-12

Total Pages: 115

ISBN-13: 9781481313995

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With Radiant Hope is a collection of thirty-four messages that George W. Truett wrote at the close of each year to his congregation while serving as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. Truett's famed ministry at the now well-known church extended from 1897 to 1944; the messages contained in this volume span the period from 1910 to 1944. The abiding value of these magnanimous missives, from beginning to end, is their pastoral tone, literary quality, biblical basis, and theologically robust character. There is, of course, no single right way to read the messages that comprise this collection. Some will want to read them from beginning to end in swift succession, perhaps in a single sitting. Others will want to savor them, reading one a day, or a handful a day, over a stretch of time. Beginning during Advent and continuing through Christmastide holds promise for being an especially meaningful way to use this book. Although Truett's letters are situated at year's end, they are for all seasons and offer an edifying read time and time again. --Joel C. Gregory, Professor of Preaching and Holder of the George W. Truett Endowed Chair of Preaching and Evangelism, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University


The Associate Pastor

The Associate Pastor

Author: Martin E. Hawkins

Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 214

ISBN-13: 9780805440645

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Encourages current and prospective associate pastors to reevaluate the significance and importance of their role and calling for the local body of Christ.