A Study Guide and a Teacher’s Manual Gospel Principles was written both as a personal study guide and as a teacher’s manual. As you study it, seeking the Spirit of the Lord, you can grow in your understanding and testimony of God the Father, Jesus Christand His Atonement, and the Restoration of the gospel. You can find answers to life’s questions, gain an assurance of your purpose and self-worth, and face personal and family challenges with faith.
God has told us His story. Do we know it? Anne Graham Lotz leads you through the first eleven chapters of Genesis, unlocking hidden messages in the familiar stories of Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the ark, the Tower of Babel, and others. She thoughtfully illuminates each moment of Creation with inspiring insights and probing reflections to better reveal God, the Creator of us all. In God's Story you will thrill to the beauty, majesty, and tenderness of God's personal involvement in creating the world, and you will come to recognize the Creator's infinite power at work in your life as well.
You Need a Foundation That You Can Build Your Life Upon! Many Christians have a limited understanding of basic Bible doctrine, and this lack of knowledge breeds frustration and robs them of many blessings that belong to them as believers. Often they find themselves stumbling in the same areas over and over, missing out on the vibrant Christian life they know they should be experiencing. In this book, Rick Renner puts these frustrations to rest as he guides the reader through the six basic doctrines every believer should know so that he can build his life in Christ on a solid foundation of Scripture and sound doctrine. Rick teaches: Repentance what it is, what it isnt, and how to do it. What is saving faith? Three baptisms in the New Testament. What is the laying on of hands? The doctrines of resurrection and eternal judgment. A transplant that will save your life. The missing link in many churches today and how it is affecting the whole Body of Christ. What you will learn in these pages will help lay a foundation underneath your life or fortify the foundation that has already been laid so that you can live the life of fulfillment and contentment in Christ that God intends for you.
A dramatic tension confronts every Christian believer and interpreter of Scripture: on the one hand, we encounter images of God commanding and engaging in horrendous violence: one the other hand, we encounter the non-violent teachings and example of Jesus, whose loving, self-sacrificial death and resurrection is held up as the supreme revelation of God’s character in the New Testament. How do we reconcile the tension between these seemingly disparate depictions? Are they even capable of reconciliation? Throughout Christian history, many different answers have been proposed, ranging from the long-rejected explanation that these contrasting depictions are of two entirely different ‘gods’ to recent social and cultural theories of metaphor and narrative representation. The Crucifixion of the Warrior God takes up this dramatic tension and the range of proposed answers in an epic constructive investigation. Over two volumes, renowned theologian and biblical scholar Gregory A. Boyd argues that we must take seriously the full range of Scripture as inspired, including its violent depictions of God. At the same time, we must take just as seriously the absolute centrality of the crucified and risen Christ as the supreme revelation of God. Developing a theological interpretation of Scripture that he labels a “cruciform hermeneutic,” Boyd demonstrates how Scripture’s violent images of God are completely reframed and their violence subverted when they are interpreted through the lens of the cross and resurrection. Indeed, when read through this lens, Boyd argues that these violent depictions can be shown to bear witness to the same self-sacrificial character of God that was supremely revealed on the cross.
Grounded is a dynamic book written for anyone desiring to build a secure life in Jesus. This book takes the reader on a vibrant journey through the foundations of Christian Faith (Hebrews 6:1-2). It provides great insights and some powerful testimonies that will inspire intimacy with Jesus and provoke you to take action in the Gospel. Our firm foundation being on Christ Jesus is the only assurance in times of trouble. Grounded seeks to equip and strengthen people in their relationship with God and will benefit both new and mature believers.
There is an appetite for God. And it can be awakened. I invite you to turn from the dulling effects of food and the dangers of idolatry, and to say with some simple fast: "This much, O God, I want you." Our appetites dictate the direction of our lives - whether it be the cravings of our stomachs, the passionate desire for possessions or power, or the longings of our spirits for God. But for the Christian, the hunger for anything besides God can be an arch-enemy. While our hunger for God - and Him alone - is the only thing that will bring victory. Do you have that hunger for Him? As John Piper puts it: "If we don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great." If we are full of what the world offers, then perhaps a fast might express, or even increase, our soul's appetite for God. Between the dangers of self-denial and self-indulgence is this path of pleasant pain called fasting. It is the path John Piper invites you to travel in this book. For when God is the supreme hunger of your heart, He will be supreme in everything. And when you are most satisfied in Him, He will be most glorified in you.
How to Live in Bold Confidence Have you ever needed confidence in a specific circumstance and couldn’t think of an example of anyone who had “been there, overcome that”? Author and speaker Lynn Cowell took every form of insecurity we experience as women and asked God to reveal how we should respond. The result is this in-depth, six-week Bible study spanning obscure and recognizable women in Scripture who demonstrate unshakable confidence no matter their circumstances. This six-week study will help you to: Stand with resolve when your confidence faces adversity—Women of Exodus Step out in your own defense when your confidence is challenged— The Daughters of Z Remain faithful when your confidence in God is elusive—Rahab Focus on what is true when your confidence in relationships is questioned— Abigail & Michal Trust when your confidence is in doubt—Martha & Mary Includes biblical and historical background insights, practical application, and a memory verse for each chapter. This study may be completed individually or with a small group.
'I found myself praying from Christian Foundations in new ways. Of course, like most academics, I had heard it all before. But I haven't- not this way, at least. It was truly an experience of talking to God while thinking about God- not a bad way to do theology...Needless to say, I will use it with my undergraduates.' -Dr. Thomas Groome, Boston College
100 courage-building moments to help girls 8-12 explore who they are, easing their fears and anxiety, while inspiring them to strive towards the woman they want to be through this exciting yet confusing season of change. From Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and blogger, Lynn Cowell, comes Faithgirlz’ Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You. These 100 motivating moments guide tween girls to reflect on Scripture and find confidence in God, rather than in someone, some place, or some thing, as pop culture is already telling them. Throughout these pages—formatted as theme-based mini chapters that can be read once a day, once a week, or at the reader’s own pace—Lynn prepares tween girls to: Overcome confidence-defeating thoughts and stand on who Jesus says she is. Build a strong foundation to face the fickle, sometimes hurtful opinions of others. Find approval of herself even when she lacks the acceptance of others. Walk confidently through the exciting, yet scary world of growing up by turning to Christ step by step. Featuring a gorgeous, foil decorated hardcover and beautifully formatted pages modeled after the well-known and loved Faithgirlz brand of books, Lynn’s relatable, conversational tone makes it easy for girls to feel like they’re in a safe place spending time with a close friend.
This textbook for introductory spiritual formation courses presents the fundamentals and practices of the discipline. This collection includes presentations by several well-known evangelical scholars including Gordon Johnston, Darrell Bock, Richard Averbeck, Klaus Issler, and others.