The Fate of the Apostles
The Fate of the Apostles

Author: Sean McDowell

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-03-09

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 1317031903

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The Book of Martyrs by John Foxe written in the 16th century has long been the go-to source for studying the lives and martyrdom of the apostles. Whilst other scholars have written individual treatments on the more prominent apostles such as Peter, Paul, John, and James, there is little published information on the other apostles. In The Fate of the Apostles, Sean McDowell offers a comprehensive, reasoned, historical analysis of the fate of the twelve disciples of Jesus along with the apostles Paul, and James. McDowell assesses the evidence for each apostle’s martyrdom as well as determining its significance to the reliability of their testimony. The question of the fate of the apostles also gets to the heart of the reliability of the kerygma: did the apostles really believe Jesus appeared to them after his death, or did they fabricate the entire story? How reliable are the resurrection accounts? The willingness of the apostles to die for their faith is a popular argument in resurrection studies and McDowell offers insightful scholarly analysis of this argument to break new ground within the spheres of New Testament studies, Church History, and apologetics.

The Lighthouse Effect
The Lighthouse Effect

Author: Steve Pemberton

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2021-09-28

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 0310362334

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In this stirring follow-up to his memoir, Steve Pemberton gives practical encouragement for how you can be a "human lighthouse" for others and through these inspiring stories will renew your hope for humanity. Our polarized, divisive culture seems to be without heroes and role models. We are adrift in a dark sea of disillusionment and distrust and we need "human lighthouses" to give us hope and direct us back to the goodness in each other and in our own hearts. Steve Pemberton found a lighthouse in an ordinary man named John Sykes, his former high school counselor. John gave Steve a safe harbor after Steve escaped an abusive foster home and together they navigated a new path that led to personal and professional success. Through stories of people like John and several others, you will identify how the hardships you have overcome equip you to be a "human lighthouse," inspiring those around you. The humble gestures of kindness that change the course of our lives can shift the course for America too. With a unique vision for building up individuals and communities and restoring trust, The Lighthouse Effect opens your eyes to those who are quietly heroic. You will reflect on the lighthouses in your own life and be reminded that the greatest heroes are alongside us--and within us.

I Have My Doubts
I Have My Doubts

Author: Philip Graham Ryken

Publisher: Crossway

Published: 2024-08-13

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1433593416

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10 Bible Stories of Faith and Doubt to Encourage Believers through Uncertainty Will God do what he says he promises? Can we trust his intentions? Is he even good? Without guidance, these doubt-filled questions can hinder spiritual progress and lead to discouragement. Thankfully, the Bible offers encouraging examples of men and women who remained faithful to God even through seasons of uncertainty. Based on a series of Wheaton College chapel messages, this encouraging guide explores 10 Bible stories on the topic of faith and doubt to reassure readers that doubt is normal for Christians. These stories cover a wide range of questions and doubts that most Christians experience at some point in their faith journey—doubts about God's power, protection, justice, healing, and more. Ultimately, readers will better understand the dynamic of faith and doubt, helping them renew their faith in God even through times of uncertainty. Encouraging: This book bolsters faith in God and his word amid inevitable times of doubt Scriptural Study: Explores 10 stories of biblical believers who experienced doubt yet remained faithful to God Written by Philip Ryken: President of Wheaton College and author of Beauty Is Your Destiny; Is Jesus the Only Way?; and Loving the Way Jesus Loves.

The Rise of the Nones
The Rise of the Nones

Author: James Emery White

Publisher: Baker Books

Published: 2014-04-29

Total Pages: 259

ISBN-13: 144124607X

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The single fastest growing religious group of our time is those who check the box next to the word none on national surveys. In America, this is 20 percent of the population. Exactly who are the unaffiliated? What caused this seismic shift in our culture? Are our churches poised to reach these people? James Emery White lends his prophetic voice to one of the most important conversations the church needs to be having today. He calls churches to examine their current methods of evangelism, which often result only in transfer growth--Christians moving from one church to another--rather than in reaching the "nones." The pastor of a megachurch that is currently experiencing 70 percent of its growth from the unchurched, White knows how to reach this growing demographic, and here he shares his ministry strategies with concerned pastors and church leaders.

How Can I Believe When I Have So Many Doubts?
How Can I Believe When I Have So Many Doubts?

Author: Michael A. Babcock

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Published: 2011-02-01

Total Pages: 169

ISBN-13: 0736940375

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“It’s okay to doubt.” With these opening words of his introduction, Michael Babcock draws in skeptics and believers alike with the comforting assurance that their questions do not disqualify them from faith. Rather, he asserts, doubt is essential to faith because our doubts drive us to God. Readers will instantly relate to Babcock’s personal, casual tone as he deftly leads them on a journey between two dangerous extremes. On one side, he cautions readers against a fundamentalist attempt to wipe doubt away. On the other side, he guards against a contemporary tendency to make doubt a badge of honor. Penetrating insights into Bible stories and characters provide a solid scriptural foundation as Babcock describes doubt as a natural part of the human condition. Babcock leads readers to a wonderful conclusion: The only answer to doubt is an encounter with the living God.

If I Really Believe, Why Do I Have These Doubts?
If I Really Believe, Why Do I Have These Doubts?

Author: Dr. Lynn Anderson

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2010-06-15

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 1451604777

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For anyone who experiences a lapse of faith—here are the answers you seek. Faith is the most fundamentally important aspect of following Christ. Yet there are times in every believer's life when the inevitable question arises in the heart and works its way to the soul: If I really believe, why do I have these doubts? The question may have been planted by tragedy or trial. It may have been ignited by rejection or heartbreak. It may even be as simple as an intellectual burr that can't be shaken. If you or someone you know is asking this question, this book will bring help and hope to every heart in search of a deeper faith.

Tell Me Everything
Tell Me Everything

Author: Marilyn Meberg

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 2010-03-29

Total Pages: 235

ISBN-13: 1418555029

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Women of Faith speaker, Marilyn Meberg, offers bold and straightforward insight and biblical teaching for the secret issues of women. A food addiction. That mistake in college. The petty bad habit. A relative we’d rather forget . . . Secrets come in all shapes and sizes, but we all have them. And nine times out of ten, we wish we didn’t. Wrapped in layers—often years—of fear, secrets are not so easily discarded. In Tell Me Everything, Marilyn Meberg offers hope for anyone struggling to find freedom in a world that loves living in the dark. With a master’s degree in counseling psychology, she understands how we tie ourselves up in knots. As a Christian and Bible teacher, she knows how we can escape the lies that keep us bound. With wit and wisdom, Marilyn offers advice, examples, and encouragement that will engage the mind and help unburden the heart. What would it take for you to share your deepest secrets? To be completely honest? “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”—1 Peter 5:7 How good would it feel to just let it all out—no fear, no condemnation? “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”—Romans 8:1 Is there anyone you can trust that much? “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”—John 14:1 And what would happen if you did open up? "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”—Matthew 11:28

Faith Unraveled
Faith Unraveled

Author: Rachel Held Evans

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2014-04-08

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 0310339170

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From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans: a must-read for anyone on the journey of doubt, deconstruction, and ultimately faith reborn. Eighty years after the Scopes Monkey Trial made a spectacle of Christian fundamentalism and brought national attention to her hometown, Rachel Held Evans faced a trial of her own when she began to have doubts about her faith. In Faith Unraveled, Rachel recounts growing up in a culture obsessed with apologetics, struggling as her own faith unraveled one unexpected question at a time. In order for her faith to survive, Rachel realizes, it must adapt to change and evolve. Using as an illustration her own spiritual journey from certainty to doubt to faith, Evans challenges you to disentangle your faith from false fundamentals and to trust in a God who is big enough to handle your tough questions. In a changing cultural environment where new ideas seem to threaten the safety and security of the faith, Faith Unraveled is a profoundly moving, fearlessly honest, and relentlessly hopeful story of survival. This book was previously titled Evolving in Monkey Town.

Living the Simply Luxurious Life
Living the Simply Luxurious Life

Author: Shannon Ables

Publisher:

Published: 2018-10-07

Total Pages: 402

ISBN-13: 9780692085219

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What can you uniquely give the world? We often sell ourselves short with self-limiting beliefs, but most of us would be amazed and delighted to know that we do have something special - our distinctive passions and talents - to offer. And what if I told you that what you have to give will also enable you to live a life of true contentment? How is that possible? It happens when you embrace and curate your own simply luxurious life. We tend to not realize the capacity of our full potential and settle for what society has deemed acceptable. However, each of us has a unique journey to travel if only we would find the courage, paired with key skills we can develop, to step forward. This book will help you along the deeper journey to discovering your best self as you begin to trust your intuition and listen to your curiosity. You will learn how to: - Recognize your innate strengths - Acquire the skills needed to nurture your best self - Identify and navigate past societal limitations often placed upon women - Strengthen your brand both personally and professionally - Build a supportive and healthy community - Cultivate effortless style - Enhance your everyday meals with seasonal fare - Live with less, so that you can live more fully - Understand how to make a successful fresh start - Establish and mastermind your financial security - Experience great pleasure and joy in relationships - Always strive for quality over quantity in every arena of your life Living simply luxuriously is a choice: to think critically, to live courageously, and to savor the everydays as much as the grand occasions. As you learn to live well in your everydays, you will elevate your experience and recognize what is working for you and what is not. With this knowledge, you let go of the unnecessary, thus simplifying your life and removing the complexity. Choices become easier, life has more flavor, and you begin to feel deeply satisfying true contentment. The cultivation of a unique simply luxurious life is an extraordinary daily journey that each of us can master, leading us to our fullest potential.

Doubt Your Doubts
Doubt Your Doubts

Author: Chad P. Conrad

Publisher: CFI

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781462115921

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Why don't women hold the priesthood? How should we deal with homosexuality? What about evolution? Even your toughest gospel questions can become testimony-builders with this timely and informative book. Unafraid to address hot-button issues, this is an eye-opening read that will strengthen your faith, help you confront controversial topics, and find answers you can apply to your everyday life.