What if Jesus didn't die to save us from God? The doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement is not the Gospel. It's a theory that originated in the 1500s under John Calvin. The damage done by this teaching is still being felt today. It's time to abandon this toxic theology in favor of a Christ-centered view of the cross that sets us free from sin and unveils a God of love who would rather die than live without us.
* Full color edition Psychologist and Spiritual Director Bill Gaultiere guides you on a prayer walk with Jesus and the stations of his cross. You'll be encouraged by: Fresh re-tellings of Gospel stories Surprising insights from the Bible Personal reflection questions A hope-filled journey with Jesus This guide is for your personal devotions or to share with friends in a small group or on a retreat. It's great for Lent or anytime of year. Appendix One features an outline for eight messages or studies. Discover that with Jesus at the cross you are forever "Unforsaken"! Also available in black and white for $9.99 https: //www.createspace.com/6365423
Reflecting on the practice of disciple making in young adult, college, graduate, and local church contexts, Jonathan Dodson has discerned some common pitfalls. For many, discipleship is reduced to a form of religious performance before God. For others, it devolves into spiritual license and a loose adherence to spiritual facts. Both approaches distort biblical motivations for Christian obedience and are in need of reform. By explaining various motivations for discipleship, Dodson charts a biblically faithful, grace-driven alternative. Additionally, he provides a practical model for creating gospel-centered discipleship groups—small, reproducible, missional, gender-specific groups of believers that fight for faith together. This book blends both theology and practice to inspire and equip Christians to effectively fight sin, keep Jesus central, and make gospel-centered discipleship a way of life. Both new and growing Christians will learn to trust the gospel in community as they fight together for holiness as well as how to start gospel-centered community groups in any local church.
Professor Meeka examines the theological implications of Jesus’ cry on the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), and how it conflicts with the consistent faithfulness of the GOD of Israel as described in the Original Testament scriptures. It explores how this moment of perceived abandonment challenges key Original Testament principles, raising questions about the alignment of the Christian narrative with the laws and justice of the GOD of Israel.
This book seeks to unpack the evolution of Barth’s understanding of God’s suffering in Jesus Christ in the light of election. The interconnectedness of election, crucifixion, and (im)passibility is explored, in order to ask whether the suffering of Christ is also a statement about the Trinity.
What if God is better than you think and hell isn't an eternal torture chamber? Many Christians are unaware that Universal Reconciliation was the dominant view of the church for the first 500 years, with Annihilation and Eternal Torment as minority positions. Jesus Undefeated is an eye-opening examination of all three views of the afterlife and a God who is even more loving than we dare imagine. Discover the Gospel that is not merely "Good News," but fantastically "Great News."
"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" How should a Christian interpret this passage? What implications does the cross have for the trinitarian theology? Did the Father kill the Son? Theologian Thomas McCall presents a trinitarian reading of Christ's darkest moment--the moment of his prayer to his heavenly Father from the cross. McCall revisits the biblical texts and surveys the various interpretations of Jesus cry, ranging from early church theologians to the Reformation to contemporary theologians. Along the way, he explains the terms of the scholarly debate and clearly marks out what he believes to be the historically orthodox point of view. By approaching the Son's cry to the Father as an event in the life of the Triune God, Forsaken seeks to recover the true poignancy of the orthodox perspective on the cross.
God called. He wants His Church back. Many Christians have begun to recognize that God desires His church to function as an organism rather than an organization. After over 11 years of experience founding and facilitating a house church, author Keith Giles shares the insights he developed in the trenches. Filled with practical, real-world examples of how to plant and nurture an organic gathering, readers will find a wealth of information to help them bring Jesus back to the forefront of every meeting. First published as This Is My Body: Ekklesia As God Intended, 2010 by Subversive Press, Orange, California. Additional material includes: "Anatomy of an Organic Church," "Pitfalls of Organic Church," and "What's Wrong With House Church," published online at www.subversive1.blogspot.com by Keith Giles. This edition is expanded, updated, and edited to reflect the transforming views of the author on this important subject.
What if Jesus was serious about loving our enemies? For too long, those who carry the name "Christian" have ignored the Christlike path of enemy-love and creative nonviolence. For many of us, the Second Amendment has become more important than the Sermon on the Mount. It's time we begin to walk the path of peace marked out for us by the Prince of Peace and learn to study war no more.
