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    Books ( Spanish)

    • Book Of Common Prayer

      $12.99

      The Book of Common Prayer is one of the most influential books in history. First published in the reign of Edward VI, in 1549, it was a product of the English Reformation following the break with Rome. For nearly five centuries, it has formed the order of worship for established Christianity in England. More listeners have heard these prayers, it is said, than the soliloquies of Shakespeare. As British imperial ambitions spread, the Book of Common Prayer became the primary instrument (at least as much as the King James Bible) of English culture, firstly in Ireland in 1551. When the Puritans fled to America in 1620 it was to escape the discipline imposed by of the Book of Common Prayer, yet the book came to embody official religion in America before and after Independence, and is still in use.

      Today it is a global book: it was the first book printed in many languages, from north America to southern Africa, to the Indian sub-continent.

      In this Very Short Introduction Brian Cummings tells the fascinating history of the Book of Common Prayer, and explains why it is easily misunderstood. Designed in the 1540s as a radical Protestant answer to Catholic “superstition,” within a century (during the English Civil Wars) radical Christians regarded the Book of Common Prayer as itself “superstitious” and even (paradoxically) “Papist.” Changing in meaning and context over time, the Book of Common Prayer has acted as a cultural symbol, affecting the everyday conduct of life as much as the spiritual, and dividing conformity from non-conformity, in social terms as well as religious, from birth to marriage to death.

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    • 99 Prayers Your Church Needs But Doesnt Know It Yet

      $9.99

      When the unexpected comes and you can’t find the words to pray, 99 Prayers Your Church Needs (But Doesn’t Know It Yet) will provide the starting point that will help lead you to the prayer your congregation or pastor needs. From prayers for a family who has lost a loved one to addiction, to a prayer for the new pastor in a new congregation, these 99 prayers will help you respond to a multitude of unexpected prayer requests? whether celebratory or grieving, or somewhere in between?in the course of your congregation’s life.

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    • Reciprocal Church : Becoming A Community Where Faith Flourishes Beyond High

      $20.99

      Introduction: Reciprocal Church

      Part 1: A Theological Vision For The Reciprocal Church
      1. Eating Melon On Tuesdays: Young People And Faith
      2. Galloping Mares: The Gospel Without Christ’s Church
      3. A Vital Identity: God Gathers A People
      4. A Vital Purpose: Christ Is Reconciling Relationships
      5. A Vital Avenue: The Spirit Transforms You, Me, And Us

      Part 2: Values And Practices For Flourishing Communities
      6. Tetherballs And Floodlights: Valuing Memory
      7. The Oxpecker’s Gift: Valuing Mutuality
      8. Seeing Beyond The Epidemic: Recognizing Potential
      9. Moving Beyond The Epidemic: Valuing Contribution
      10. Windmills Of Hope: Valuing Maturity

      Epilogue: Faith Flourishes With Practice
      Acknowledgments
      Discussion Questions
      Notes

      Additional Info
      The church faces an unprecedented loss of rising generations. Young adults who were active and engaged in the local church are leaving the community behind after high school. What can we do? Responding to these concerning statistics, Sharon Galgay Ketcham reflects theologically on the church community and its role in forming faith. She exposes problems in the way leaders conceive of and teach about the relationship between individual faith and the local church, and offers fresh solutions in the form of values and practices that can shape a community into a place where faith will flourish in those both young and old.

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    • Welcoming Justice : Gods Movement Toward Beloved Community (Expanded)

      $18.99

      We have seen progress in recent decades toward Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of beloved community. But this is not only because of the activism and sacrifice of a generation of civil rights leaders. It happened because God was on the move.

      Historian and theologian Charles Marsh partners with veteran activist John Perkins to chronicle God’s vision for a more equitable and just world. Perkins reflects on his long ministry and identifies key themes and lessons he has learned, and Marsh highlights the legacy of Perkins’s work in American society. Together they show how abandoned places are being restored, divisions are being reconciled, and what individuals and communities are now doing to welcome peace and justice.

      Now updated with a new preface to reflect on current social realities, this book reveals ongoing lessons for the continuing struggle for a just society. Come, discover your part in the beloved community. There is unfinished work still to do.

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    • Church Forsaken : Practicing Presence In Neglected Neighborhoods

      $22.99

      “There are no God-forsaken places, just church-forsaken places.” -Jon Fuller, OMF International

      Jonathan Brooks was raised in the Englewood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. As soon as he was able, he left the community and moved as far away as he could. But through a remarkable turn of events, he reluctantly returned and found himself not only back in Englewood but also serving as a pastor (“Pastah J”) and community leader.

      In Church Forsaken, Brooks challenges local churches to rediscover that loving our neighbors means loving our neighborhoods. Unpacking the themes of Jeremiah 29, he shows how Christians can be fully present in local communities, building homes and planting gardens for the common good. His holistic vision and practical work offers good news for forgotten people and places. And community stakeholders and civic leaders will rediscover that churches are viable partners in community transformation in ways that they may never have considered.

      God has always been at work in neglected neighborhoods. Join Pastah J on this journey and discover new hope for your community.

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    • Christian Music : A Global History Revised And Expanded (Expanded)

      $22.99

      Christian Music: A Global History was originally published by Lion Hudson in 2011. This new edition has been substantially extended and updated.

      Dr Tim Dowley’s wide-ranging survey includes contributions from nine additional experts. The book covers the Jewish musical tradition; early hymns and psalms; music after Constantine; the rise of music in the Orthodox tradition; Christian chant and the core of medieval music; polyphony in the medieval and Renaissance eras; music and the Lutheran Reformation; the rise of Catholic Baroque; the development of Anglican worship; Christian music in Latin America; the Viennese tradition of liturgical and non-liturgical sacred music; sacred music in the age of Romanticism; 19th-century hymns; the steadily developing tradition of Christian music in Africa; sacred music and the concert hall; music and The Salvation Army; the rise of carols; popular church music in the 20th century; the making of the American Gospel tradition; Christian music in SE Asia; musical traditions in Australia and New Zealand, and in the Pacific Islands; Christian elements in the rise of folk and jazz; and the rise of the contemporary Christian music industry.

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    • Why Study The Past

      $21.99

      The well-worn saying about being condemned to repeat the history we do not know applies to church history as much as to any other area of history. But how can we discern what lessons we need to learn from the many centuries of church history?

      In this small but thoughtful volume, respected theologian and churchman Rowan Williams opens up a theological approach to history, an approach that is both nonpartisan and relevant to the church’s present needs. As he reflects on how we consider the past in general, Williams suggests that church history remains important not so much for winning arguments as for clarifying who we are as time-bound human beings. Williams particularly addresses North American readers in his new preface to this perennially timely invitation to remember who we are.

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    • 8 Virtues Of Rapidly Growing Churches

      $17.99

      Leaders who are interested in planting or revitalizing congregations often feel discouraged and defeated after leadership conferences, or after reading about the ‘heroes’ of church planting and church growth. “They are amazing,” they say. “I can’t be that amazing.” But Jesus’ load is easy and his burden is light. When we examine the practices and characteristics of those ‘heroes’, we see striking trends and commonalities. Aspiring church leaders can learn the practices and develop the characteristics that will lead to successful churches. Instead of feeling defeated, new leaders should have a hope-filled sense of what new thing they can do. Authors Matt Miofsky and Jason Byasse carefully researched, interviewed, and profiled successful church-growers across the U.S., and identified 8 characteristics these leaders and their congregations have in common. These pastors are still learning, still figuring out how to do this work and how to faithfully live into God’s call. But for now, how are they doing what they do? What mistakes have they made & learned from? Where have they paid the stupid tax that others should avoid? Each of these ‘heroes’ is painfully ordinary and up front about their flaws. And each can see slightly farther than the rest of us. What do they see that we can learn from? Discover the 8 characteristics, and learn how to adapt them for your own congregation and calling.

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    • Seeing Jesus In East Harlem

      $18.99

      Introduction

      Part 1: Show Up
      1. El Testimonio: Go And Show Yourself
      2. The “Here I Ams” Of Life: Calling And Holy Disorientation
      3. Incarnational: Tracing Our Presence Through Christ’s Body
      4. Naming Whiteness: Discerning Space As Disciple Making

      Part 2: Staying Put
      5. Staying Public: Welcoming Home The Prophets
      6. Remaining At Work: Becoming God’s Crowdsource In The Barrio
      7. Staying Together: When Hope Became A Household

      Part 3: See
      8. Look Again: Generous Seeing As A Measure Of Discipleship
      9. Curating Heaven: Dance And Dirge At Christ’s Table
      10. El Culto: Marking Life’s Moments, Rescripting Trauma
      11. Apocalypse: Church From A Different Vantage Point

      Acknowledgments
      Notes

      Additional Info
      We are all located in different places. Some of us move from neighborhood to neighborhood or even state to state. And the way we grow as disciples and lead others in spiritual growth depends on our contexts. Pastor Jose Humphreys recognizes how deeply our faith is tied to our particular stories in our particular places. Grounded in his own deep faith and wisdom, he writes out of his experiences as a Puerto Rican pastor who has planted a multiethnic church in East Harlem. In this book, he offers a framework to help church leaders take discipleship seriously in their places, calling them to show up, stay put, and see what God is doing in their midst. Combining spiritual formation with activism, vivid narrative with exhortation, and realism with hopefulness, Humphreys offers pastors and church planters a thoughtful look at discipleship in a complex world.

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    • Placemaking And The Arts

      $32.99

      We are, each one of us, situated in a particular place.As embodied creatures, as members of local communities and churches, as people who live in a specific location in the world, we all experience the importance of place. But what role does place play in the Christian life and how might our theology of place be cultivated?In this Studies in Theology and the Arts volume, Jennifer Allen Craft argues that the arts are a significant form of placemaking in the Christian life. The arts, she contends, place us in time, space, and community in ways that encourage us to be fully and imaginatively present in a variety of contexts: the natural world, our homes, our worshiping communities, and society. In so doing, the arts call us to pay attention to the world around us and invite us to engage in responsible practices in those places.Through this practical theology of the arts, Craft shows how the arts can help us by cultivating our theological imagination, giving shape to the Christian life, and forming us more and more into the image of Christ.

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    • Disputed Teaching Of Vatican 2

      $43.99

      The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) radically shook up many centuries of tradition in the Roman Catholic Church. This book by Thomas Guarino, a noted expert on the sources and methods of Catholic doctrine, investigates whether Vatican II’s highly contested teachings on religious freedom, ecumenism, and the Virgin Mary represented a harmonious development of-or a rupture with-Catholic tradition.

      Guarino’s careful explanations of such significant terms as continuity, discontinuity, analogy, reversal, reform, and development greatly enhance and clarify his discussion. No other book on Vatican II so clearly elucidates the essential theological principles for determining whether-and to what extent-a conciliar teaching is in continuity or discontinuity with antecedent tradition.

      Readers from all faith traditions who care about the logic of continuity and change in Christian teaching will benefit from this masterful case study.

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    • Mapping Church Missions

      $20.99

      Foreword By Paul Borthwick
      Introduction: Charting Our Course
      1. Good News And Good Deeds
      2. Neighbors Near And Far
      3. Crisis Response And Sustainable Development
      4. Time And Money
      5. Benefits And Drawbacks Of Short-Term Teams
      6. Serving The Undiscipled And Discipling The Servant
      7. Minimizing And Embracing Risk
      Conclusion: Mobilizing Our Congregations
      Acknowledgments
      Appendix 1: Beyond Minute For Missions: Connecting Churches With Mission Partners
      Appendix 2: Scenarios For Further Reflection
      Notes

      Additional Info
      The terrain of church missions is often bewildering.

      Should we prioritize evangelism or works of service? Local ministries or overseas missions? What’s more important: giving our money or giving our time? Crisis relief or building sustainable, long-term ministries? And what about the often debated pros and cons of short-term missions trips?

      In Mapping Church Missions, Sharon Hoover brings her years of experience in local church missions to bear on these and other thorny questions. Instead of taking a hardline stance on one end of the spectrum or the other, she approaches each question with nuance, adding helpful data, presenting new perspectives, and always pressing gently past surface questions to the heart of the matter.

      Whether we’re fully aware of it or not, our churches come up against these questions whenever we consider how best to use our resources for the mission of God. Written by an experienced guide, this book maps the terrain of church missions in careful detail, helping us plot our church’s unique course as we seek to serve Christ’s kingdom.

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    • Reading Marks Christology Under Caesar

      $25.99

      Acknowledgments
      Introduction
      Abbreviations
      1. Reconstructing Mark’s Historical Setting
      2. Mark’s Christological Titles
      3. The Powerful Jesus Of Mark 1-8
      4. The Suffering Jesus Of Mark 8:22-10:52
      5. A Roman Reading Of Mark’s So-Called Secrecy Motif
      6. Jesus And The Temple
      7. Jesus In Mark’s Passion Narrative
      Conclusion
      Appendix: Yahweh Christology In Mark’s Gospel
      Bibliography
      Author Index
      Subject Index
      Scripture Index

      Additional Info
      The Gospel of Mark has been intensively studied from multiple angles using many methods. But often there remains a discontent, a sense that something is wanting, that the full picture of Mark’s Gospel lacks some background circuitry that-if properly supplied-would light up the whole. Adam Winn finds a clue in the cataclysmic destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70. For Jews and Christians it was an apocalyptic moment. The earth shook, the sun went dark in the cosmic canopy, and Rome danced on the ruins of the holy temple. The gods of Rome seemed to have conquered the God of the Jews. And Roman Christians’ allegiance to a messiah crucified by Rome renewed sharp questions.Could it be that Mark wrote his Gospel in response to Roman imperial propaganda surrounding this event? However else they might function, are Mark’s themes and christological titles coded subversions of empire? Have we missed clues to understanding Mark’s messianic secret? Could a messiah crucified by Rome really be God’s Son appointed to rule the world?Adam Winn takes us on the adventure of rediscovering how Mark might have been read by Christians in Rome in the aftermath of the fall of Jerusalem. He introduces us to the Roman imperial propaganda of the Flavian emperors and excavates the Markan text for themes that address the Roman imperial setting.Here is an intriguing look into a first-century response to the question Christ or Caesar? Entering a first-century house church in Rome, we hear this Gospel again as if for the first time.

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    • Religion And American Culture

      $33.99

      While Americans still profess to be one of the most religious people in the industrialized world, many aspects of American culture have long been secular and materialistic. That is just one of the many paradoxes, contradictions, and surprises in the relationship between Christianity and American culture. In this book George Marsden, a leading historian of American Christianity and award-winning author, tells the story of that relationship in a concise and thought-provoking way.

      Surveying the history of religion and American culture from the days of the earliest European settlers right up through the elections of 2016, Marsden offers the kind of historically and religiously informed scholarship that has made him one of the nation’s most respected and decorated historians. Students in the classroom and history readers of all ages will benefit from engaging with the story Marsden tells.

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    • Your Companion After Sexual Assault

      $5.99

      The Out of the Depths series addresses common pastoral crises in a faithful, encouraging, and factual manner that provides support to parishioners in crisis beyond the initial pastoral conversation. These inexpensive booklets can be given out to parishioners when they bring their recent diagnosis, crisis, or trauma to the pastor as a way to continue to provide care throughout the difficult season. Each booklet begins with a thoughtful consideration of the topic at hand, which is followed up by 30 brief devotions. These devotions are designed to be manageable in an overwhelming time, encouraging, and honest. This Sexual Assault edition features devotions from Emily Flemming, United Methodist clergywoman. The Out of the Depths booklets are essential care resources to be given out by pastors, Stephen Ministers, and congregational care teams.
      Key Features:
      Written by metal health professionals and pastors to help the reader process their trauma both psychologically and theologically.
      Includes accessible material describing the dynamics of the crisis situation and typical reactions, which provides the reader with a sense of grounding and direction through increased knowledge.
      The thirty short devotions creates a sense of companionship and hope in a difficult and lonely time.
      Knowing they are sharing a resource written by mental health professionals and pastors with personal experience provides pastors a trustworthy source of information.
      Easy for pastors/churches to keep in stock and distribute as needed, serves as a tangible reminder of the faith community’s care.

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    • Inspira – (Spanish)

      $16.00

      “La cultura, no la vision o la estrategia, es el factor mas poderoso en cualquier organizacion. Ella determina la receptividad del personal y de los voluntarios a nuevas ideas, desata o inhibe la creatividad, construye o erosiona el entusiasmo, y crea un sentido de orgullo y profundo desaliento sobre trabajar o involucrarse. Finalmente, la cultura de una organizacion, particularmente en iglesias y organizaciones sin fines de lucro, pero tambien en cualquier organizacion, moldea la moral individual, el trabajo de equipo, la efectividad y los resultados.” — del capitulo uno
      Con frecuencia, los lideres organizacionales confunden la cultura con la vision y la estrategia, pero son muy diferentes. La vision y la estrategia usualmente se enfocan en productos, servicios y resultados, pero la cultura es sobre las personas, el activo mas valioso de la organizacion. Inspira, Como crear una cultura organizacional poderosa lleva a descubrir los deficits en una culta organizacional e incluye los pasos necesarios para evaluar, corregir y cambiar la cultura organizacional deslucida a una vibrante e inspiracional, para que verdaderamente llene las necesidades de la organizacion. El prominente consultor de liderazgo Sam Chand describe las cinco categorias facilmente identificables de la cultura organizacional (Inspiradora, Aceptadora, Estancada, Desalentadora y Toxica), e incluye metodos diagnosticos que los lideres pueden usar para la identificar las fortalezas particulares y las necesidades de su cultura organizacional. Para ayudar en este proceso, tambien, hay una herramienta de evaluacion separada, gratuita, en linea (www.samchandculturesurvey.com). Cuando la cultura de la organizacion esta claramente identificada, los lideres pueden establecer una estrategia para aplicar las siete claves de la Cultura (control, Entendimiento, Liderazgo, Confianza, Sin temor, Responsiva y Ejecucion) que hara de su cultura una que estimule a las personas a ser y hacer lo mejor, y finalmente alcanzar sus metas mas altas.

      “Culture–not vision or strategy–is the most powerful factor in any organization. It determines the receptivity of staff and volunteers to new ideas, unleashes or dampens creativity, builds or erodes enthusiasm, and creates a sense of pride or deep discouragement about working or being involved there. Ultimately, the culture of an organization–particularly in churches and nonprofit organizations, but also in any organization–shapes individual morale, teamwork, e

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    • Your Companion After Addiction

      $5.99

      The Out of the Depths series addresses common pastoral crises in a faithful, encouraging, and factual manner that provides support to parishioners in crisis beyond the initial pastoral conversation. These inexpensive booklets can be given out to parishioners when they bring their recent diagnosis, crisis, or trauma to the pastor as a way to continue to provide care throughout the difficult season. Each booklet begins with a thoughtful consideration of the topic at hand, which is followed up by 30 brief devotions. These devotions are designed to be manageable in an overwhelming time, encouraging, and honest. This Addiction edition, co-authored by Jim Hightower and Peter Ferguson, is appropriate for both individuals experiencing addiction and their family and friends. The Out of the Depths booklets are essential care resources to be given out by pastors, Stephen Ministers, and congregational care teams.
      Key Features:
      Written by metal health professionals and pastors to help the reader process their trauma both psychologically and theologically.
      Includes accessible material describing the dynamics of the crisis situation and typical reactions, which provides the reader with a sense of grounding and direction through increased knowledge.
      The thirty short devotions creates a sense of companionship and hope in a difficult and lonely time.
      Knowing they are sharing a resource written by mental health professionals and pastors with personal experience provides pastors a trustworthy source of information.
      Easy for pastors/churches to keep in stock and distribute as needed, serves as a tangible reminder of the faith community’s care.

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    • True Inclusion : Creating Communities Of Radical Embrace

      $14.99

      Discover how to move your church beyond mere welcome to radical embrace.

      So your church website says you’re welcoming, a rainbow flag flies out front, worship uses gender-inclusive language, and you make sure you greet the stranger next to you on Sunday mornings. But is all of that really enough? And what if those welcoming gestures actually keep visitors from returning and exclude dozens of other groups or people in your community?

      In True Inclusion, public theologian and pastor Brandan Robertson shares how to move your church from mere welcome to radical embrace. Pointing to a clear biblical imperative for radical inclusivity in the sanctuary and in the public square, Robertson presents a paradigm-shifting vision of community, “where nothing is simple, nothing is easy, but everything is beautiful.” Learn practical, step-by-step approaches to becoming deeply, robustly, and richly inclusive of all people regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and socioeconomic status.

      Written for people and communities at every stage of the journey, True Inclusion will challenge and inspire you to embody a gospel of radical embrace for all.

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    • Introduction To The New Testament

      $70.00

      This New Testament introduction is different.Many introductions zero in on the historical contexts in which the New Testament literature was written. This introduction goes farther-to give particular attention to the social, cultural, and rhetorical contexts of the New Testament authors and their writings.Few introductions to the New Testament integrate instruction in exegetical and interpretive strategies with the customary considerations of authorship, dating, audience, and message. This introduction capitalizes on the opportunity, introducing students to a relevant facet of interpretation with each portion of New Testament literature.Rarely do introductions to the New Testament approach their task mindful of students preparing for ministry. This introduction is explicit in doing so, recognizing as it does that the New Testament itself-in its parts and as a whole-is a pastoral resource. Each chapter on the New Testament literature closes with a discussion of implications for ministry formation.These integrative features alone would distinguish this introduction from others. But in addition, its pages brim with maps, photos, points of interest, and aids to learning. Separate chapters explore the historical and cultural environment of the New Testament era, the nature of the Gospels and the quest for the historical Jesus, and the life of Paul.First published in 2004, David A. deSilva’s comprehensive and carefully crafted introduction to the New Testament has been long established as an authoritative textbook and resource for students. This beautiful, full-color second edition has been updated throughout with new scholarship and numerous images. It is the first choice for those convinced that a New Testament introduction should integrate scholarship and ministry.

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    • Your Companion Through Chronic Illness

      $5.99

      The Out of the Depths series addresses common pastoral crises in a faithful, encouraging, and factual manner that provides support to parishioners in crisis beyond the initial pastoral conversation. These inexpensive booklets can be given out to parishioners when they bring their recent diagnosis, crisis, or trauma to the pastor as a way to continue to provide care throughout the difficult season. Each booklet begins with a thoughtful consideration of the topic at hand, which is followed up by 30 brief devotions. These devotions are designed to be manageable in an overwhelming time, encouraging, and honest. This Chronic Illnessedition is authored by Lauren Dunkle Dancey, a United Methodist chaplain and pastor who lives with chronic illness. The Out of the Depths booklets are essential care resources to be given out by pastors, Stephen Ministers, and congregational care teams. Key Features:
      Written by metal health professionals and pastors to help the reader process their trauma both psychologically and theologically.
      Includes accessible material describing the dynamics of the crisis situation and typical reactions, which provides the reader with a sense of grounding and direction through increased knowledge.
      The thirty short devotions creates a sense of companionship and hope in a difficult and lonely time.
      Knowing they are sharing a resource written by mental health professionals and pastors with personal experience provides pastors a trustworthy source of information.
      Easy for pastors/churches to keep in stock and distribute as needed, serves as a tangible reminder of the faith community’s care.

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    • Your Companion Through Depression And Anxiety

      $5.99

      The Out of the Depths series addresses common pastoral crises in a faithful, encouraging, and factual manner that provides support to parishioners in crisis beyond the initial pastoral conversation. These inexpensive booklets can be given out to parishioners when they bring their recent diagnosis, crisis, or trauma to the pastor as a way to continue to provide care throughout the difficult season. Each booklet begins with a thoughtful consideration of the topic at hand, which is followed up by 30 brief devotions. These devotions are designed to be manageable in an overwhelming time, encouraging, and honest. This Depression and Anxiety edition is authored by Jim Hightower and features insightful devotions by Harriet Bryan. The Out of the Depths booklets are essential care resources to be given out by pastors, Stephen Ministers, and congregational care teams. Key Features: Written by metal health professionals and pastors to help the reader process their trauma both psychologically and theologically. Includes accessible material describing the dynamics of the crisis situation and typical reactions, which provides the reader with a sense of grounding and direction through increased knowledge. The thirty short devotions creates a sense of companionship and hope in a difficult and lonely time. Knowing they are sharing a resource written by mental health professionals and pastors with personal experience provides pastors a trustworthy source of information. Easy for pastors/churches to keep in stock and distribute as needed, serves as a tangible reminder of the faith community’s care.

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    • Protestant Reformation Of The Church And The World

      $55.00

      From a distinguished assembly of twelve internationally acclaimed scholars comes this rich, interdisciplinary study that explores the Protestant Reformation and its resultant effects on the church as well as the world.

      The Reformation extended from the church to revolutionize art, music, literature, architecture, and aesthetics and transformed economics, trade, and banking; these transformations shifted power away from the church to the state as they unleashed radical new campaigns for freedom, equality, democracy, and constitutional order.

      Each contributor to this volume draws on distinctive methods and themes in an effort to understand the Reformation on its own complex terms, as well as to reconstruct its teachings and warnings for our day.

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    • Scripture And The Wesleyan Way Leader Guide (Teacher’s Guide)

      $15.99

      1. What Is The Bible’s Message?
      2. How Can I Be Saved?
      3. Am I A Real Christian?
      4. Do I Have To Obey The Law?
      5. Am I A Sinner?
      6. How Can I Connect With God?
      7. Why Is The Christian Life No Easier?
      8. What About My Money?

      Additional Info
      The Bible was central to John Wesley’s faith and the Christian movement he founded. In Scripture and the Wesleyan Way, you will discover a Wesleyan approach to the Bible and the Christian life through a Bible study using Wesley’s own words. In this study, authors Scott and Arthur Jones use John Wesley’s sermons to illuminate the Bible passages at the heart of Wesley’s understanding of what it means to be a real Christian. Each chapter explores a key Scripture text and one of Wesley’s sermons on it. Through their insightful and engaging study, Bishop Jones and his son Arthur show how the teachings of Wesley address questions that many of us in the twenty-first century still struggle with today. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the eight-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

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    • New Testament Christological Hymns

      $34.99

      Acknowledgments
      Abbreviations
      1. Introduction
      2. Cultural Matrices
      3. The Philippian Hymn
      4. The Colossian Hymn
      5. The Prologue Of The Gospel Of John
      6. A Wider Look: Other Hymnic Passages In The New Testament
      7. Conclusion
      Bibliography
      Author Index
      Subject Index
      Scripture Index

      Additional Info
      We know that the earliest Christians sang hymns. Paul encourages believers to sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” And at the dawn of the second century the Roman official Pliny names a feature of Christian worship as “singing alternately a hymn to Christ as to God.” But are some of these early Christian hymns preserved for us in the New Testament? Are they right before our eyes?New Testament scholars have long debated whether early Christian hymns appear in the New Testament. But where some see preformed hymns and liturgical elements embossed on the page, others see patches of rhetorically elevated prose from the author’s hand.Matthew Gordley now reopens this fascinating question. He begins with a new look at hymns in the Greco-Roman and Jewish world of the early church. Might the didactic hymns of that cultural current set a new starting point for talking about hymnic texts in the New Testament? If so, how should we detect these hymns? How might they function in the New Testament? And what might they tell us about early Christian worship?An outstanding feature of texts such as Philippians 2:6-11, Colossians 1:15-20, and John 1:1-17 is their christological character. And if these are indeed hymns, we encounter the reality that within the crucible of worship the deepest and most searching texts of the New Testament arose.New Testament Christological Hymns reopens an important line of investigation that will serve a new generation of students of the New Testament.

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    • What Does It Mean To Be Welcoming

      $18.99

      “Welcoming?” (An Introduction)

      Part One: The Complexity
      1. Meanings, Motives, Regrets, And Hopes
      2. A Difficult, Knotty, Potentially Thorny Conversation
      Testimonial: My Son
      Testimonial: Our Daughter
      3. The Terrifying Beauty Of A Diverse Church Or Denomination

      Part Two: The Topic
      4. The Affirming Position
      Testimonial: A Lesbian Christian
      5. The Traditional Position
      6. What Does The Bible Say?

      Part Three: The Way Forward
      7. What Options Does A Same-Sex Attracted Christian Have?
      8. We Can’t Just Sing Kumbaya Forever
      9. Welcoming But Not Affirming And Mutually Transforming
      Testimonial: Called To Stay
      Testimonial: Why We Left
      10. What Can We Do?

      Conclusion
      Acknowledgments
      Appendix A: A Process
      Appendix B: A Statement On Sexuality
      Discussion Guide
      Notes
      For Further Reading

      Additional Info
      Is your church wrestling with LGBT questions from membership to marriage? Travis Collins has been there. A pastor who has walked congregations through the complex issues surrounding gay Christians, he knows firsthand the confusion and hurt that often follow. He has also seen churches have these conversations with grace and understanding. In this practical resource, readers will gain insight into relevant biblical passages and hear from interpreters on both sides of the debate. They will consider the implications of their convictions for ministry practice, relationships, church policy, and more. They will hear testimonies from gay friends and family members about their experiences in the church. Collins calls readers to both grace and truth, with humility.What Does It Mean to Be Welcoming? considers how we might welcome everyone into the church while calling for all to be transformed.

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    • Man Attested By God

      $44.99

      Thought-provoking alternative perspective on the full humanity of Jesus Christ

      In A Man Attested by God J. R. Daniel Kirk presents a comprehensive defense of the thesis that the Synoptic Gospels present Jesus not as divine but as an idealized human figure.

      Counterbalancing the recent trend toward early high Christology in such scholars as Richard Bauckham, Simon Gathercole, and Richard Hays, Kirk here thoroughly unpacks the humanity of Jesus as understood by Gospel writers whose language is rooted in the religious and literary context of early Judaism. Without dismissing divine Christologies out of hand, Kirk argues that idealized human Christology is the best way to read the Synoptic Gospels, and he explores Jesus as exorcist and miracle worker within the framework of his humanity.

      With wide-ranging exegetical and theological insight that sheds startling new light on familiar Gospel texts, A Man Attested by God offers up-to-date, provocative scholarship that will have to be reckoned with.

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    • Handbook Of Women Biblical Interpreters

      $56.47

      The history of women interpreters of the Bible is a neglected area of study. Marion Taylor presents a one-volume reference tool that introduces readers to a wide array of women interpreters of the Bible from the entire history of Christianity. Her research has implications for understanding biblical interpretation–especially the history of interpretation–and influencing contemporary study of women and the Bible. Contributions by 130 top scholars introduce foremothers of the faith who address issues of interpretation that continue to be relevant to faith communities today, such as women’s roles in the church and synagogue and the idea of religious feminism. Women’s interpretations also raise awareness about differences in the ways women and men may read the Scriptures in light of differences in their life experiences.

      This handbook will prove useful to ministers as well as to students of the Bible, who will be inspired, provoked, and challenged by the women introduced here. The volume will also provide a foundation for further detailed research and analysis.Interpreters include Elizabeth Rice Achtemeier, Saint Birgitta of Sweden, Catherine Mumford Booth, Anne Bradstreet, Catherine of Siena, Clare of Assisi, Egeria, Elizabeth I, Hildegard, Julian of Norwich, Therèse of Lisieux, Marcella, Henrietta C. Mears, Florence Nightingale, Phoebe Palmer, Faltonia Betitia Proba, Pandita Ramabai, Christina Georgina Rossetti, Dorothy Leigh Sayers, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Beecher Stowe, St. Teresa of Avila, Sojourner Truth, and Susanna Wesley.

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    • Loving And Leaving A Church

      $26.00

      Barbara Melosh’s story was a common one. A second-career seminarian, she arrived at her first pastorate brimming with enthusiasm and high hopes. The blue-collar congregation to which she’d been called had a glorious past but an uncertain future. Certain that she could turn around its slow yet undeniable slide into decline, Melosh inaugurated a number of church growth and outreach programs. Most of these efforts had little effect, and the ones that did seem to work soon suffered reverse outcomes and eventual demise. In the end, Melosh had to conclude that the members of the congregation liked their church the way it was and that she could not drag them into a future they did not want.

      Yet while the congregation failed to change itself, Melosh notes, it succeeded in changing her. Simply put, it made her a pastor. At times heartbreaking and hilarious, Loving and Leaving a Church offers a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities of ministry in a mainline church.

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    • Come Back Effect (Reprinted)

      $18.82

      Highly sought-after speakers and consultants provide church leaders valuable insights and practical ideas on how to create a ministry driven by hospitality and an experience that makes first-time guests keep coming back.

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    • Welcoming The Stranger

      $22.99

      Foreword By Leith Anderson
      1. The Immigration Dilemma
      2. “Aliens” Among You: Who Are Undocumented Immigrants?
      3. Nation Of Immigrants: A Historical Perspective On Immigration To The United States
      4. Immigrating The Legal Way: Our Immigration System Today
      5. Thinking Biblically About Immigration
      6. Concerns About Immigration
      7. The Value Of Immigrants To The United States
      8. Immigration Policies And Politics
      9. Immigration And The Church Today
      10. A Christian Response To The Immigration Dilemma
      Acknowledgments
      Appendix 1: Discussion Questions
      Appendix 2: Evangelical Statement Of Principles For Immigration Reform
      Appendix 3: Ministries And Organizations Serving Refugees And Other Immigrants In The United States
      Appendix 4: Ministries And Organizations Addressing The Root Causes Of Immigration
      Appendix 5: Selected Resources For Learning More About The Immigration Issue
      Appendix 6: Tools For Political Advocacy
      Notes
      Index

      Additional Info
      Immigration is one of the most complicated issues of our time. Voices on all sides argue strongly for action and change. Christians find themselves torn between the desire to uphold laws and the call to minister to the vulnerable.In this book World Relief immigration experts Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang move beyond the rhetoric to offer a Christian response to immigration. They put a human face on the issue and tell stories of immigrants’ experiences in and out of the system. With careful historical understanding and thoughtful policy analysis, they debunk myths and misconceptions about immigration and show the limitations of the current immigration system. Ultimately they point toward immigration reform that is compassionate, sensible, and just as they offer concrete ways for you and your church to welcome and minister to your immigrant neighbors.This revised edition includes new material on refugees and updates in light of changes in political realities.

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    • Glimpsing Resurrection : Cancer Trauma And Ministry

      $28.00

      In Glimpsing Resurrection, Deanna A. Thompson combines recent trauma research with compelling first-person narrative to provide insight into the traumatic dimensions of living with a serious illness. Her aim is to help those who are ill and those who care for and minister to them deepen their understanding of how best to offer support.

      “The tendency for Christians to move almost immediately from death to proclamations of new life risks alienating those for whom healing and new life seem out of reach,” says Thompson. Glimpsing Resurrection focuses less on the “why” to help readers instead come to terms with the “how” of living with a serious disease. In particular, Thompson provides a framework and concrete suggestions for how to be a church where those who are undone by illness can be undone, as well as a place that can love and support them to hope.

      “Finding space within the psalms, the story of Job, Jesus’ cry of God-forsakenness on the cross, and even Christ’s descent into hell helps us imagine how Christian communities can be spacious enough to acknowledge and hold those who are undone by illness,” Thompson says. “Only then does it become possible to identify the hope that can emerge from our not-yet-resurrection reality to imagine more in life today as well as in the life to come.”

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    • Disruptive Witness : Speaking Truth In A Distracted Age

      $17.99

      Introduction

      Part One: A Distracted, Secular Age
      1. The Barrier Of Endless Distraction
      2. The Barrier Of The Buffered Self
      3. Searching For Visions Of Fullness

      Part Two: Bearing A Disruptive Witness
      4. Disruptive Personal Habits
      5. Disruptive Church Practices
      6. Disruptive Cultural Participation
      Conclusion: Large And Startling Figures
      Notes

      Additional Info
      We live in a distracted, secular age.These two trends define life in Western society today. We are increasingly addicted to habits-and devices-that distract and “buffer” us from substantive reflection and deep engagement with the world. And we live in what Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor calls “a secular age”-an age in which all beliefs are equally viable and real transcendence is less and less plausible. Drawing on Taylor’s work, Alan Noble describes how these realities shape our thinking and affect our daily lives. Too often Christians have acquiesced to these trends, and the result has been a church that struggles to disrupt the ingrained patterns of people’s lives. But the gospel of Jesus is inherently disruptive: like a plow, it breaks up the hardened surface to expose the fertile earth below. In this book Noble lays out individual, ecclesial, and cultural practices that disrupt our society’s deep-rooted assumptions and point beyond them to the transcendent grace and beauty of Jesus.Disruptive Witness casts a new vision for the evangelical imagination, calling us away from abstraction and cliche to a more faithful embodiment of the gospel for our day.

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    • Lost Discipline Of Conversation

      $24.99

      Recovering Spiritual Practices of the Past titles reach beyond commonly known spiritual formation practices in order to mine the wisdom of the past, bringing to light ways of thinking, living, and growing in Christ that the church today has largely overlooked.

      In The Lost Discipline of Conversation, spiritual formation professor and author Joanne Jung walks readers through the Puritan practice of “conference,” or focused, spiritual conversations intended to promote ongoing transformation. An antidote to privatized faith, conference calls believers to biblical literacy and soul care in a context of transparency and accountability.

      Useful for believers in any sphere or ministry or stage in life, conference is ultimately a tool for nurturing mutual, godly authenticity within community.

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    • Serving God In Todays Cities

      $19.99

      Welcome to the world’s first urban century. How will you respond?

      For the first time ever, more people now live in cities than outside them. Cities offer both big headaches and vast opportunities, and agencies that once focused on rural work are increasingly turning their attention to urban centers. Join veteran researcher and missiologist Patrick Johnstone as he explores the fastest growing cities and megacities in the world, showing how Christian workers are addressing people’s spiritual, physical, and social needs.

      In 1962 Patrick Johnstone left England’s countryside to serve the bustling townships of apartheid-era South Africa. His pioneering of urban ministries changed his life. Journey with Patrick and Dean Merrill as they share God’s heart for the city and introduce pastors, missionaries, and community workers who are addressing urbanization’s key challenges.

      God has a heart for today’s cities. See how you can join this urgent mission.

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    • 2 Ways : The Early Christian Vision Of Discipleship From The Didache And Th

      $8.00

      How did earliest Christians receive and understand the teaching of Jesus and the apostles? These writings, among the earliest used in training new disciples, show a clear, vibrant, practical faith concerned with all aspects of discipleship in daily life–vocation, morality, family life, social justice, the sacraments, prophesy, citizenship, and leadership.

      For the most part, these writings have remained buried in academia, analyzed by scholars but seldom used for building up the church community. Now, at a time when Christians of every persuasion are seeking clarity by returning to the roots of their faith, these simple, direct teachings shed light on what it means to be a follower of Christ in any time or place.

      The Didache, an anonymous work composed in the late first century AD, was lost for centuries before being rediscovered in 1873. The Shepherd was written by a former slave named Hermas in the second century AD or possibly even earlier.

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    • Serving God In A Migrant Crisis

      $19.99

      “God has used migration for millennia to achieve his purposes for his people,” writes Patrick Johnstone. “He is doing so again in our time.”

      Millions are on the move, driven by war, drought, terrorism, poverty, failed states, environmental catastrophes, disease, revolutions, and the desire for a better life. Christians have a unique perspective on the migrant crisis: after all, Jesus was a refugee. So were Abraham, Joseph, and Moses.

      Today, some turn their backs on refugees. In Serving God in a Migrant Crisis, Patrick Johnstone and Dean Merrill help us understand what’s causing today’s refugee crisis, explore Christian theology and tradition on migration, and show us how Christian workers around the globe are opening their hearts to embrace these modern outcasts.

      “The world has literally come to our doorstep,” they write. “Will we open the door?”

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    • Quit Church : Because Your Life Would Be Better If You Did (Reprinted)

      $22.50

      Based on research among congregations across the country, seasoned church coach and pastor Chris Sonksen reveals habits we need to simply let go, along with spiritual practices we need to relearn in order to thrive as individuals and produce growth in our churches.

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    • Who Is My Neighbour

      $15.99

      Following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, and with increasing division, xenophobia, and confusion over future national and international relationships, this thought- and action-provoking book considers the crucial question: Who is my neighbor?

      What does the Christian injunction to “love your neighbor as yourself” actually mean in practice today? Contributions by renowned theologians and practitioners reflect on this subject in relation to issues of poverty, ecology, immigration, fear, and discrimination, and the recent political upheavals both in Europe and the United States.

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    • Free At Last

      $10.99

      Gods Life Publishing

      What is one of the most stubborn problems permeating America churches today? Racism! It divides Christian’s brothers and sisters and hinders the spreading of the gospel. Free at Last! Is a concise, in-depth study that reveals the malignancy hampering the Body and gives a biblical antidote to address this spiritual hindrance.

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    • Organic Outreach For Churches (Expanded)

      $16.99

      Nearly all churches and ministries consider themselves dedicated to evangelism, and many explicitly include outreach in their mission statements. But few are actually bearing fruit. Kevin Harney diagnoses this problem and offers guidance for multiplying the outreach impact of churches. Organic Outreach for Churches provides direction for local congregations to weave evangelism into the fabric of the church. Commitment to the Great Commission is not simply about sending money and prayers to missions or holding occasional events to reach out (although these things are good). Organic outreach happens when evangelistic vision and action become the domain of every ministry and the commitment of every person in the congregation. This will not happen accidentally. There is huge spiritual and practical resistance to such changes. But the only way evangelism will become an organic part of a church is when every leader and each member is gripped by a commitment to proclaiming the gospel. This book is a roadmap for pastors and leaders who wish to infuse evangelistic passion into every aspect of their church’s life.

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    • Lifesaving Church : Faith Communities And Suicide Prevention

      $14.99

      In The Lifesaving Church: Faith Communities and Suicide Prevention, pastor Rachael Keefe shatters the deadly silence around suicide by sharing her own painful story of life-long depression and suicidality — and how the church responded for better and for worse — to help equip other communities become lifesaving churches.

      Equal parts memoir, theological reflection, clinical response, and action guide, The Lifesaving Church is critical reading for faith communities seeking abundant life for all of its members. With specific appendices for clergy and church leaders, suicide loss survivors, and those considering suicide — as well as provocative discussion questions at the end of each chapter — The Lifesaving Church is rich with resources for all to help break the silence and begin saving lives.

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    • Real Artists Dont Starve

      $16.99

      Bestselling author and creativity expert Jeff Goins dismantles the myth that being creative is a hindrance to success by revealing how an artistic temperament is in fact a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Now in trade paper.

      For centuries, the myth of the starving artist has dominated our culture, seeping into the minds of creative people and stifling their pursuits. But the truth is that the world’s most successful artists did not starve. In fact, they capitalized on the power of their creative strength. In Real Artists Don’t Starve, Jeff Goins debunks the myth of the starving artist by unveiling the ideas that created it and replacing them with timeless strategies for thriving, including:

      steal from your influences (don’t wait for inspiration),
      collaborate with others (working alone is a surefire way to starve),
      take strategic risks (instead of reckless ones),
      make money in order to make more art (it’s not selling out), and
      apprentice under a master (a “lone genius” can never reach full potential).
      Through inspiring anecdotes of successful creatives both past and present, Goins shows that living by these rules is not only doable but it’s also a fulfilling way to thrive.

      From graphic designers and writers to artists and business professionals, creatives already know that no one is born an artist. Goins’s revolutionary rules celebrate the process of becoming an artist, a person who utilizes the imagination in fundamental ways. He reminds creatives that business and art are not mutually exclusive pursuits. In fact, success in business and in life flow from a healthy exercise of creativity.

      Expanding upon the groundbreaking work in his previous bestseller The Art of Work, Goins explores the tension every creative person and organization faces in an effort to blend the inspired life with a practical path to success. Being creative isn’t a disadvantage for success; rather, it is a powerful tool to be harnessed.

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    • Katharina And Martin Luther (Reprinted)

      $16.99

      Their revolutionary marriage was arguably one of the most scandalous and intriguing in history. Yet five centuries later, we still know little about Martin and Katharina Luther’s life as husband and wife. Until now. Against all odds, the unlikely union worked, over time blossoming into the most tender of love stories. This unique biography tells the riveting story of two extraordinary people and their extraordinary relationship, offering refreshing insights into Christian history and illuminating the Luthers’ profound impact on the institution of marriage, the effects of which still reverberate today. By the time they turn the last page, readers will have a deeper understanding of Luther as a husband and father and will come to love and admire Katharina, a woman who, in spite of her pivotal role, has been largely forgotten by history.

      Together, this legendary couple experienced joy and grief, triumph and travail. This book brings their private lives and their love story into the spotlight and offers powerful insights into our own twenty-first-century understanding of marriage.

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    • Developing Clinicians Of Character

      $50.00

      Preface
      1. Contemporary Clinical Supervision: An Overview
      2. A Christian Integrative Framework For Clinical Supervision
      3. Faith: Belief And Trust
      4. Hope: A Steadfast Turning
      5. Love: Relational Competence
      6. Practical Wisdom: Competence And Ethical Decision Making
      7. Justice: Diversity Competence, Hospitality, And Openness To The Other
      8. Temperance: Reflective Practice
      9. Courage: Professional Endurance And Integrity
      10. Personal And Spiritual Formation In Counseling, Psychology, And MFT Education
      Appendix A: Sample Supervision Contract For Group Supervision In An Educational Context
      Appendix B: Supervision Documentation Form
      Appendix C: Collaborative Professional Development Plan
      References
      Author Index
      Subject Index
      Scripture Index

      Additional Info
      Is there more to clinical supervision than our current theories and methods can provide? Whether we intend them to be or not, our mentoring practices are personally formative for supervisees and supervisors alike. Developing Clinicians of Character grounds our thinking in the historic and contemporary wisdom of virtue ethics and grows out of a love for the practice of clinical supervision. It aims to identify and strengthen supervision’s important role for character formation in the classroom, in continuing education for practitioners, and in clinical settings.

      After an overview of the role of character formation in clinical supervision, Developing Clinicians of Character examines each classical Christian virtue in turn, its corresponding professional ethical aspiration, and how we can use the practices of clinical supervision and spiritual formation together to foster character formation for Christian maturity and Christlikeness.

      Dr. Terri S. Watson welcomes and equips you to excel in “the helping profession within a helping profession” as you provide clinical supervision for other mental health workers in counseling, psychology, and marriage and family therapy. This book will shape your own character through spiritual disciplines in the classical virtues-and outward in expanding circles of encouragement, formation, and healing.

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    • Questions And Answers About The United Methodist Church (Revised)

      $5.99

      McAnally has revised Questions & Answers About the United Methodist Church to update statistics and information throughout the book, along with new frequently asked questions not in the current edition. This book is a useful guide that answers the most frequently asked questions about the beliefs, practices, and history of The United Methodist Church. The information is brief, and is presented in an easy question-and-answer format. It is great for those new to the United Methodist Church or those who want to know more. Revised to update statistics and information throughout the book. Also, updated with the answers to the current most commonly asked questions.

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    • Jesus Paul Knew (Student/Study Guide)

      $12.99

      Getting The Most Out Of The Jesus Paul Knew
      1. Source Of Grace (1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-17)
      2. Visionary Leader (Acts 26)
      3. Comfort In Dark Times (Philippians 1:12-26)
      4. The Peacemaker (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
      5. Demanding Everything (Philippians 3:1-14)
      6. Lover And Protector (Romans 8:31-39)
      7. Choosing The Cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-31; 2:1-5)
      8. Giver Of Strength And Contentment (Philippians 4:10-20)
      9. Jesus Or Nothing (Galatians 1:1-9; 2:20-21)
      10. Inspirer Of Praise (Ephesians 1:3-14)
      Leader’s Notes

      Additional Info
      “For to me, to live is Christ,” (Philippians 1:21).

      Many of us may have thought more about Paul’s foundational theology than about how Paul learned more about Jesus and what it meant to obey him in the everyday tests of his faith. This ten-session study guide leads us through the growth in the apostle Paul’s knowledge of Jesus and how it changed his life, when at pivotal points he intersected with Jesus.

      For over three decades LifeGuide Bible Studies have provided solid biblical content and raised thought-provoking questions-making for a one-of-a-kind Bible study experience for individuals and groups. This series has more than 130 titles on Old and New Testament books, character studies, and topical studies.

      Only 1 left in stock (additional units can be purchased)

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    • Product Of A Pimp And A Prostitute

      $17.63

      King Jesus Press LLC

      A Product of a Pimp and a Prostitute is a heart-warming memoir about forgiveness. The tales of drug-induced theft and other crimes will capture you. The story of grace and forgiveness will change you.

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    • Demanding Liberty : An Untold Story Of American Religious Freedom

      $22.99

      Religious liberty is one of the most contentious political issues of our time. How should people of faith engage with the public square in a pluralist era? Some citizens hope to reclaim a more Christian vision of national identity, while others resist any religious presence at all.

      This dispute is not new, and it goes back to the founding era of American history. As the country was being formed, some envisioned a Christian nation where laws would require worship attendance and Sabbath observance. Others advocated for a thoroughly secular society where faith would have no place in public life. But neither extreme won the day, thanks to the unsung efforts of a Connecticut pastor who forged a middle way.

      Historian Brandon O’Brien unveils the untold story of how religious liberty came to be. Between the Scylla and Charybdis of theocracy and secularism, Baptist pastor Isaac Backus contended for a third way. He worked to secure religious liberty and freedom of conscience for all Americans, not just for one particular denomination or religious tradition. Backus’s theological ideas had social consequences, giving us insights into how people of faith navigate political debates and work for the common good.

      Backus lived in an age of both religious revival and growing secularism, competing forces much like those at work today. Then and now, people fiercely argue about the role of government and the limits of liberty. The past speaks into the present as we continue to demand liberty and justice for all.

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    • House United : How The Church Can Save The World

      $34.98

      Introduction
      1 The Divided States Of America
      2 A Tale Of Two Prayers
      3 Righteous Minds
      4 The Perils Of Echo Chambers
      5 The Dividends Of Difference
      6 Meeting Through Mission
      7 Christian Mingle
      8 Courageous Conversations
      9 Mission 4.0: How The Church Can Save The World

      Additional Info
      By entering the culture wars, churchgoers in the United States have ushered the Left and the Right to even greater extremes. Battles over moral issues like abortion rights and homosexuality have now widened to include taxation and size of government, so that specific church affiliation has become an accurate predictor of political party affiliation. The extremists in American politics rely on Christians to be the engine that pushes the culture farther right or left.

      Allen Hilton believes that religion isn’t inherently divisive, and he suggests a new role for Christianity. Jesus prayed that his disciples might all be one, and this book imagines a proper answer to that prayer in the context of American polarization.

      Rather than asking people to leave their political and theological beliefs at the church door, Hilton promotes a Christianity that brings people together with their differences. Through God’s transforming work, he writes, we can create a house united that will help our nation come back together.

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    • Quest For The Historical Apostles

      $41.17

      This comprehensive historical and literary introduction to the lives of the apostles underscores their impact on the growth of the early church.

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    • Building Credibility In Leadership

      $19.99

      Today there is a lack of trust in leaders, notably those leading the church, potentially leading to a lack of trust in God Himself – the Leader. As secondary leaders we must help to build credibility in leadership by remembering that our service is “unto the Lord.” This book giving sound instructions on how to become the type of leader God has destined you to be.

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    • For The Gospels Sake

      $48.99

      Informed take on the amazing growth of a very unusual missionary organization

      The two-sided mission organization comprising Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Summer Institute of Linguistics is a paradox that begs explanation. The scientific Summer Institute of Linguistics has worked in many countries around the world to translate the New Testament, develop unwritten languages, and educate indigenous communities. At the same time, Wycliffe Bible Translators has been one of the largest, fastest growing, and most controversial evangelical Christian movements during the last century.

      In this wide-ranging study Boone Aldridge-a religious historian and twenty-year insider at WBT-SIL-looks back at the organization’s early years, from its inception in 1934 to the death of its visionary founder, William Cameron Townsend, in 1982. He situates the iconic institution within the evolving landscape of mid-twentieth-century evangelicalism, examines its complex and occasionally confusing strategies and policies, and investigates the factors that led, despite persistent criticism from many sides, to its remarkable rise to prominence.

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    • Pocket Dictionary Of Christian Spirituality

      $14.99

      Beginning the practice and study of Christian spirituality is like stepping into a centuries-old cathedral. People are praying, prostrating, pondering Scripture, both individually and in groups. As outsiders we may be intrigued but a bit lost, searching for bearings, and a bit fearful of embarrassment. The mix of old and new, of tradition and vitality, inspires awe and longing. How do we find our way around, overcome our awkwardness, join in, and draw near to God?

      The Pocket Dictionary of Christian Spirituality is an A to Z introduction and resource for curious newcomers and novice students of spirituality. From our early call to Abba until we arrive at Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, Don Thorsen charts the Christian spiritual pilgrimage through its many traditions, schools of thought, and tested practices.

      Among the over 300 definitions you’ll find

      terms and ideas
      traditions and movements
      practices and rituals
      texts and theology

      A reliable guide and launching pad for learning, the Pocket Dictionary of Christian Spirituality is a basic resource for the pilgrimage travel bag.

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    • 7 Practices For The Church On Mission

      $16.99

      Preface
      1. The Lord’s Table
      2. Reconciliation
      3. Proclaiming The Gospel
      4. Being With The “Least Of These”
      5. Being With Children
      6. The Fivefold Gifting
      7. Kingdom Prayer
      Notes

      Additional Info
      Jesus gave his followers seven key practices:

      The Lord’s Supper
      Reconciliation
      Proclaiming the gospel
      Being with the “least of these”
      Being with children
      Fivefold ministry gifting
      Kingdom prayer

      When we practice these disciplines, God becomes faithfully present to us, and we in turn become God’s faithful presence to the world. Pastor and professor David Fitch shows how these seven practices can revolutionize the church’s presence in our neighborhoods, transform our way of life in the world, and advance the kingdom.

      Our communities can be changed when they see us practicing our faith. Go and do.

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    • Christ On The Psych Ward

      $21.95

      Christ on the Psych Ward is a series of reflections on the intersections among mental health, faith, and ministry. Beginning with his own experience, Finnegan- Hosey shares ways communities of faith can be present with those suffering from mental illness and crises. Weaving together personal testimony, theological reflection, and practical ministry experience, he offers a message of hope for those suffering and for friends and faith communities struggling to care for them. Ultimately, his journey of recovery and healing reveals the need for a theological understanding of a vulnerable God, important not solely for ministry with those with mental health struggles, but offering a hopeful vision forward for the church.

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    • Short Stories By Jesus Leader Guide (Teacher’s Guide)

      $14.99

      Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus’ stories ignore this disparity and have often allowed anti-Semitism and misogyny to color their perspectives. In this Bible study based on her book Short Stories by Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine analyzes these “problems with parables” taking readers back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us-and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later. The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

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    • Melodies Of A New Monasticism

      $68.00

      The New Monastic Movement is a vibrant source of renewal for the church’s life and mission. Many involved in this movement have quoted Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s conviction that the church must recover ancient spiritual disciplines if it is to effectively engage “”the powers that be.”” Melodies of a New Monasticism adopts a musical metaphor of polyphony (the combination of two or more lines of music) to articulate the way that these early Christian virtues can be woven together in community. Creatively using this imagery, this book draws on the theological vision of Bonhoeffer and the contemporary witness of George MacLeod and the Iona Community to explore the interplay between discipleship, doctrine, and ethics. A recurring theme is the idea of Christ as the cantus firmus (the fixed song) around which people perform the diverse harmonies of God in church and world, including worship, ecumenism, healing, peace, justice, and ecology.

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    • Church And Theology In The 19th Century

      $64.00

      The last volume of Baur’s church history, based on lectures delivered during the 1850s, covers the nineteenth century. They were edited and published by Eduard Zeller after Baur’s death. Since the lectures devote equal attention to theological and ecclesiastical matters, the title in English is Church and Theology in the Nineteenth Century. Baur provides critical analyses of the philosophers and theologians of the nineteenth century (Herder, Schiller, Goethe, Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Jacobi, Schleiermacher, Marheineke, Neander, Mohler, Hegel, Strauss, Feuerbach, and many others), as well as details about European Catholic and Protestant church history from 1800 to 1860. What he produces is a “”participant history,”” written by a scholar very much engaged in the issues of his time. Ferdinand Christian Baur was a professor of theology at the University of Tubingen from 1826 to 1860. He is known for his path-breaking studies in New Testament literature and historical theology. Recent translations of his work by Brown and Hodgson include History of Christian Dogma and Lectures on New Testament Theology.

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    • Faith In A Pluralist Age

      $22.00

      Most academics agree with Peter Berger that pluralism theory appears more accurate than secularization theory in accounting for the societal changes that accompany modernization. Yet Berger’s earlier book Many Altars of Modernity gives limited attention to the implications of the pluralist paradigm for religious discourse, in particular for evangelicals. According to Berger–who wrote the first chapter in this book–while pluralism leads to less certainty about faith and creates “”secular spaces,”” it also, more positively, clarifies the importance of trust in God, highlights the nature of religious institutions as voluntary associations rather than birth rights, and challenges Christians to know what they believe in. Subsequent chapters respond to the first. Four responses are theoretical (e.g., challenging the concept of secular spaces, exploring social constructionism) and four are contextual (e.g., describing anti-pluralist forces in India, challenging feminists to pluralism, examining women’s responses to pluralism, and exploring values in Brazil and China). The ideas are easily accessible to the lay reader and are intended to initiate a much-needed conversation about the implications of pluralist theory. We conclude that pluralism is challenging for Christian faith but, as Peter Berger says, in most ways it is “”good for you.””

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    • Mennonite Encyclopedia 3

      $99.99

      Volume 3 of the Mennonite Encyclopedia, containing entries I-N.

      This gigantic resource covers the 435-year history of the faith, life, and culture of Anabaptists in Europe and Mennonites throughout the world. Presented are people, movements, and places in their relation to Mennonites. A few of the many articles covered are Argentina, Arminianism, Baptism, Baptist, Brazil, Calvin, Church, Communion, Congo, Deaconess, Education, Farming, Furniture, Grebel, Hubmaier, Hymnology, Industry, Literature, Marriage, Publishers, Reedley, Ukraine, and Zurich.

      The Mennonite Encyclopedia was jointly edited by historians and scholars of the Mennonite Church, General Conference of Mennonites, and Mennonite Brethren Church. More than 2,700 writers contributed articles to this reference work. Volume V includes updates on materials in the first four volumes plus nearly 1,000 new articles edited by Cornelius J. Dyck and Dennis D. Martin

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    • Kingdom Collaborators : Eight Signature Practices Of Leaders Who Turn The W

      $18.99

      Introduction: Thy Kingdom Come
      1. Pray With Eyes Wide Open
      2. Foment Dissatisfaction With The Status Quo
      3. Combine Social And Spiritual Entrepreneurship
      4. Marry Vision And Action
      5. Shape A People-Development Culture
      6. Curry Leadership Curiosity
      7. Call The Party
      8. Maintain (a Pain-Tinged) Optimism
      9. Accelerate Your Impact
      Conclusion
      Acknowledgments
      For Further Reflection/Group Discussion
      Notes

      Additional Info
      “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too,” (Acts 17:6, NKJV).

      When Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, they changed the community. How? By collaborating with God to bring his kingdom on earth.

      Will you collaborate on God’s kingdom work in your community? If you’re ready to see God move in all areas-business, education, media, arts, healthcare, spiritual growth, and more-this is the book for you. Leadership expert Reggie McNeal offers eight signature practices for leaders who want to partner with God and others for kingdom growth. Readers will gain practical advice to help people experience life as God intends.

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    • Beginners Guide To Dantes Divine Comedy

      $28.23

      This accessible, Christian introduction to Dante also serves as a primer to the Divine Comedy, helping readers appreciate the complexity and layers of meaning in Dante’s spiritual masterpiece.

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    • Christian Peace Experiment

      $53.00

      This book examines part of the development of the Bruderhof community, which emerged in Germany in 1920. Community members sought to model their life on the New Testament. This included sharing goods. The community became part of the Hutterite movement, with its origins in sixteenth-century Anabaptism. After the rise to power of the Nazi regime, the Bruderhof became a target and the community was forcibly dissolved. Members who escaped from Germany and travelled to England were welcomed as refugees from persecution and a community was established in the Cotswolds. In the period 1933 to 1942, when the Bruderhof’s witness was advancing in Britain, its members were in touch with many individuals and movements. This book covers the Bruderhof’s connections with (among others) the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Peace Pledge Union, the social work of Muriel and Doris Lester in East London, Jewish refugee groups, and artistic pioneers like Eric Gill. As significant numbers of British people joined the Bruderhof, its farming, publishing and arts and crafts activities extended considerably. But with the outbreak of the Second World War, German members came to be regarded with suspicion and British members became unpopular locally because they were pacifists. Although the Bruderhof was defended in Parliament, notably by Lady Astor, it seemed that German members would be interned as enemy aliens. The consequence was that by 1942 over 300 community members had left England. With Mennonite assistance, they began to forge a new life in South America. This book traces a remarkable Christian peace experiment being undertaken in a time of great political upheaval.

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    • Faith In A Pluralist Age

      $42.00

      Most academics agree with Peter Berger that pluralism theory appears more accurate than secularization theory in accounting for the societal changes that accompany modernization. Yet Berger’s earlier book Many Altars of Modernity gives limited attention to the implications of the pluralist paradigm for religious discourse, in particular for evangelicals. According to Berger–who wrote the first chapter in this book–while pluralism leads to less certainty about faith and creates “”secular spaces,”” it also, more positively, clarifies the importance of trust in God, highlights the nature of religious institutions as voluntary associations rather than birth rights, and challenges Christians to know what they believe in. Subsequent chapters respond to the first. Four responses are theoretical (e.g., challenging the concept of secular spaces, exploring social constructionism) and four are contextual (e.g., describing anti-pluralist forces in India, challenging feminists to pluralism, examining women’s responses to pluralism, and exploring values in Brazil and China). The ideas are easily accessible to the lay reader and are intended to initiate a much-needed conversation about the implications of pluralist theory. We conclude that pluralism is challenging for Christian faith but, as Peter Berger says, in most ways it is “”good for you.””

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    • Jesus Vs Caesar

      $21.99

      When we observe a tension between Jesus and Caesar, we acknowledge that a fundamental tension remains at the heart of Christianity. When this tension is poorly understood, Christians face disastrous consequences. The tension is not between religion and atheism or secularism. Nor is it between organized religion and personal spirituality. The tension is located within the heart of Christianity itself because it is a radical conflict between true and false forms of Christian faith. Jesus embodies and exposes this tension in ways that illuminate both how God is with us and what must change for a world that participates in God’s life. This book serves as an indictment of the pieties of empire, whether government, corporate or any other forms of the faith that dominate and exclude. One form of Christian faith (Jesus) versus another form of Christian faith (Caesar). Whom and what will we trust and serve? What did Jesus disclose to the religious, economic, and political worlds of Israel and Rome? This tension between true and false forms of religion is also deeply rooted in the Jewish traditions. The Hebrew prophets were gravely concerned about established forms of Jewish religion that appear to be respectable but result in oppression. The prophet Isaiah hears the voice of God pronouncing judgment: “You serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers” (Isaiah 58:3). True religion loosens “the bonds of injustice” (Isa 58:6) while self-serving religion is false religion. This tension between true religion and false religion is a critical opportunity for those who would follow Jesus instead of “Caesar.”

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    • Defenders Of The Faith

      $11.99

      This title, released in association with Essential Christian, will accompany a set of seminars for Spring Harvest 2018 under the overall theme of ‘Only the Brave’. The church has been under attack from its inception, but certain struggles seemed to threaten its very existence. In this inspiring book, Dr Matthew Knell celebrates some of these key figures who have kept the church alive in the midst of great adversity, exploring three major periods of persecution from the early church to the present day. This fascinating journey begins with Irenaeus of Lyon, who battled courageously against the theological threat of Gnosticism, followed by Basil of Caesarea, who defended the church from attacks on its spirituality. The book concludes with the modern Chinese church, many members of which have been attacked and even martyred for their faith. Using the examples of these defenders and many others, Dr Knell inspires readers to stand firm in the face of adversity as the global church continues to experience persecution.

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    • Christian Peace Experiment

      $33.00

      This book examines part of the development of the Bruderhof community, which emerged in Germany in 1920. Community members sought to model their life on the New Testament. This included sharing goods. The community became part of the Hutterite movement, with its origins in sixteenth-century Anabaptism. After the rise to power of the Nazi regime, the Bruderhof became a target and the community was forcibly dissolved. Members who escaped from Germany and travelled to England were welcomed as refugees from persecution and a community was established in the Cotswolds. In the period 1933 to 1942, when the Bruderhof’s witness was advancing in Britain, its members were in touch with many individuals and movements. This book covers the Bruderhof’s connections with (among others) the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Peace Pledge Union, the social work of Muriel and Doris Lester in East London, Jewish refugee groups, and artistic pioneers like Eric Gill. As significant numbers of British people joined the Bruderhof, its farming, publishing and arts and crafts activities extended considerably. But with the outbreak of the Second World War, German members came to be regarded with suspicion and British members became unpopular locally because they were pacifists. Although the Bruderhof was defended in Parliament, notably by Lady Astor, it seemed that German members would be interned as enemy aliens. The consequence was that by 1942 over 300 community members had left England. With Mennonite assistance, they began to forge a new life in South America. This book traces a remarkable Christian peace experiment being undertaken in a time of great political upheaval.

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    • Tried By Fire

      $19.99

      A major narrative history of Christianity’s first thousand years by acclaimed educator and #1 New York Times bestselling author William J. Bennett. Now in trade paper.

      Full of larger-than-life characters, stunning acts of bravery, and heart-rending sacrifice, Tried by Fire narrates the rise and expansion of Christianity from an obscure regional sect to the established faith of the world’s greatest empire with influence extending from India to Ireland, Scandinavia to Ethiopia, and all points in between. William J. Bennett explores the riveting lives of saints and sinners, paupers and kings, merchants and monks who together-and against all odds-changed the world forever. To tell their story, Bennett follows them through the controversies and trials of their time. Challenged by official persecution, heresy, and schism, they held steadfast to the truth of Christ. Strengthened by poets, preachers, and theologians, they advanced in devotion and love. In this moving and accessible narrative, Tried by Fire speaks across centuries to offer insight into the people and events that shaped the faith that continues to shape our lives today.

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    • Christianity At The Crossroads

      $32.99

      Christianity in the twenty-first century is a global phenomenon. But in the second century, its future was not at all certain.

      Initially Christianity possessed little social or cultural influence and found itself fighting for its life. While apostolic tradition was emerging as a “rule of faith,” factions contested the nature of the gospel, and pagan philosophers found its claims scandalous. And while its pathway was tenuous, Christianity was forming structures of leadership and worship, and a core of apostolic texts was emerging as authoritative. But it was the challenges, obstacles, and transitions faced by Christians in the second century that, in many ways, would determine the future of the church for the next two millennia. It was a time when Christianity stood at a crossroads.

      Michael Kruger’s introductory survey examines how Christianity took root in the second century, how it battled to stay true to the vision of the apostles, and how it developed in ways that would shape both the church and Western culture over the next two thousand years. Christianity at the Crossroads provides an accessible and informative look at the complex and foundational issues faced by an infant church still trying to determine its identity. The church’s response to the issues of heresy and orthodoxy, the development of the canon, and the transmission of the Christian Scriptures not only determined its survival, but determined the kind of church it would be for generations to come.

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    • From Jerusalem To Timbuktu

      $22.99

      Christianity started in Jerusalem. For many centuries it was concentrated in the West, in Europe and North America. But in the past century the church expanded rapidly across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Thus Christianity’s geographic center of density is now in the West African country of Mali-in Timbuktu.

      What led to the church’s vibrant growth throughout the Global South? Brian Stiller identifies five key factors that have shaped the church, from a renewed openness to the move of the Holy Spirit to the empowerment of indigenous leadership. While in some areas Christianity is embattled and threatened, in many places it is flourishing as never before.

      Discover the surprising story of the global advance of the gospel. And be encouraged that Jesus’ witness continues to the ends of the earth.

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    • Baker Compact Dictionary Of Biblical Studies

      $20.00

      Bible professors compose an easy-to-use dictionary that includes over five hundred short descriptions of topics, people, biblical events, places, people, languages, and methodologies that are foundational for the close study of the Bible.

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    • Pentecost Paradigm : Ten Strategies For Becoming A Multiracial Congregation

      $18.00

      How do churches build immunity from racial and ethnic tensions that threaten to divide rather than unite congregations? Jacqui Lewis and John Janka believe that the answer lies in the development of multiracial, multicultural communities of faith.

      Born of the authors’ work with The Middle Project, an institute that prepares ethical leaders for a more just society, Paradigm is a collection of wisdom and best practices. Here you will find lessons, questions for conversation, and spaces for journaling. Use the workbook with your planning team, board members, lay leaders, and staff.

      Ten essential strategies are presented to help build communities that celebrate racial/ethnic and cultural diversity:
      * Embracing Call and Commitment* Casting the vision * Managing Change and Resistance * Creating Congregational Identity * Building Capacity * Cultivating Community * Celebrating in Worship * Understanding Congregational Conflict * Communicating and Organizing * Collaborating in the Public Square

      In welcoming communities of faith where everyone is accepted just as they are, we can lead the way toward racial reconciliation and dismantle the prejudices that segregate our houses of worship.

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    • People Are The Mission

      $17.99

      When it comes to interacting with guests, churches typically gravitate towards one of two camps: over-the-top, shock-and-awe, let-us-entertain-you or oh-man,-some-people-just-showed-up, underwhelming experience. Each extreme has drawbacks: on one end, people become the center of the universe. On the other, hospitality is effectively ignored in deference to the “serious business” of worship.

      People Are the Mission proposes a healthy middle, one where guests are esteemed but the gospel is the goal. Danny Franks, Connections Pastor at Summit Church, shows churches how to take a more balanced approach – a “third way” that is both guest-friendly and gospel-centric. He shows why honoring the stranger doesn’t stand in opposition to honoring the Savior. People are the mission that Christ has called us to, and if we focus on people we can better assist people to focus on the gospel.

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    • Rethinking Incarceration : Advocating For Justice That Restores

      $18.99

      Introduction

      Part I: The Roots And Evolution Of Mass Incarceration
      1. The War On Drugs
      2. How Did We Get Here? From Black Codes To Neoslavery
      3. Beyond Law And Order
      4. Three Overlooked Pipelines: Mental Health, Private Prisons, And Immigration
      5. The School-to-Prison Pipeline

      Part II: The Church’s Witness And Testimony
      6. Protestant Reformers: Prophetic Activism, Nonviolence, And God’s Wrath
      7. The Prisoner’s Pastor: Chaplaincy And Theology’s Institutional Impact
      8. The Spirit Of Punishment: Atonement, Penal Substitution, And The Wrath Of God
      9. Atonement And Sanctifying Retribution
      10. Divine Justice Is Inherently Restorative
      11. Holy Interruptions: Dismantling Mass Incarceration
      Acknowledgments
      Notes
      Bibliography
      Index

      Additional Info
      The United States has 5 percent of the world’s population but 25 percent of the world’s incarcerated. We have more people locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers than any other country in the history of the world. There are more jails and prisons than degree-granting colleges and universities, and in many places more people live behind bars than on college campuses. Mass incarceration has become a lucrative industry, and the criminal justice system is plagued with bias and unjust practices. And the church has unwittingly contributed to these problems.

      In Rethinking Incarceration Dominique Gilliard explores the history and foundation of mass incarceration, examining Christianity’s role in its evolution and expansion. He assesses our nation’s ethic of meritocratic justice in light of Scripture and exposes the theologies that embolden mass incarceration. Gilliard then shows how Christians can pursue justice that restores and reconciles, offering creative solutions and highlighting innovative interventions.

      God’s justice is ultimately restorative, not just punitive. Discover how Christians can participate in the restoration and redemption of the incarceration system.

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    • Final Words From The Cross

      $14.99

      In life and in death, Jesus’ words were powerful and meaningful. Despite the serious effort and increased pain required for Jesus to speak as he hung on the cross, Jesus spoke seven “final words”-statements that have much to teach us about Jesus, his Father, and ourselves: Father Forgive Them Today You Will Be with Me in Paradise Behold Your Son…Behold Your Mother My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? I Thirst It Is Finished . . . Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit Postscript: The Words After That In 24 Hours That Changed the World, Adam Hamilton took us on a Lenten journey through the last day of Jesus’ life. Now in this inspiring follow-up book, Hamilton explores these final words as seen and heard through the eyes and ears of those who stood near the cross. Each chapter begins with the biblical account followed by a first-person story as might have been told from the viewpoint of one of the characters at the cross. Then the chapter explores the meaning of Jesus’ dying words for our lives today. Following the last statement, a postscript recounts the words Jesus spoke following his resurrection, including what truly were the final words Jesus spoke while walking this earth. Join the crowd now and experience the final words from the cross. Final Words from the Cross offers six chapters/sessions plus a postscript chapter/session, so that classes have the option of a seventh session on Easter Sunday.

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    • Incarnational Mission : Being With The World

      $28.99

      A bold new way of thinking about Christian mission

      “With,” says Samuel Wells, “is the most important word in the Christian faith.”

      In this compelling follow-up to Incarnational Ministry: Being with the Church, Wells explores what it means for mission-minded Christians and churches to be with the world.

      Drawing on the Gospels, Acts, and personal insights gleaned from his more than two decades in ministry, Wells elaborates on the concept of being with in eight dimensions: presence, atten-tion, mystery, delight, participation, partnership, enjoyment, and glory. His vivid narratives and wise reflections will help Christian readers better understand how to be with all kinds of people outside the church, both individually and collectively.

      CONTENTS
      Prologue: Not of This Fold
      Introduction: The Mission of Being With
      *1. Being with the Lapsed
      *2. Being with Seekers
      *3. Being with Those of No Professed Faith
      *4. Being with Those of Other Faiths
      *5. Being with the Hostile
      *6. Being with Neighbors
      *7. Being with Organizations
      *8. Being with Institutions
      *9. Being with Government
      *10. Being with the Excluded
      *Epilogue: Are You Hungry?

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    • Unique And Universal Christ

      $44.00

      There are tremendous pressures on Christians in the contemporary world to conform to a libertarian vision of a multi-faith society where no one makes truth-claims about their faith. In such a situation Christians need to think afresh about the uniqueness and universality of Jesus Christ and what this might mean in today’s plural world. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali shows how Jesus’ understanding of himself and his work bears on contemporary cultures and their values. He explores critical questions Christians must face: – What does the gospel affirm in contemporary cultures? – What does the gospel fulfil in contemporary cultures? – What does the gospel challenge in contemporary cultures? – How does our understanding of the crucified and risen Lord affect our view of the human condition? – How can we evaluate the different religious traditions of the world in the light of Christ? – How can we be welcoming and hospitable but also committed to that conversion and transformation of individuals and of human societies which has been revealed as God’s purpose in Christ? Christian claims of uniqueness have a direct bearing on what informs the social order. Consequently this book takes on the challenge of relativism in the contemporary social and political arena. ‘Drawing on unparalleled cross-cultural experiences and wide-ranging scholarship, Michael Nazir-Ali offers a powerful challenge to Christians tempted to dilute their faith in Christ to render it “”relevant.””

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    • Unique And Universal Christ

      $24.00

      There are tremendous pressures on Christians in the contemporary world to conform to a libertarian vision of a multi-faith society where no one makes truth-claims about their faith. In such a situation Christians need to think afresh about the uniqueness and universality of Jesus Christ and what this might mean in today’s plural world. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali shows how Jesus’ understanding of himself and his work bears on contemporary cultures and their values. He explores critical questions Christians must face: – What does the gospel affirm in contemporary cultures? – What does the gospel fulfil in contemporary cultures? – What does the gospel challenge in contemporary cultures? – How does our understanding of the crucified and risen Lord affect our view of the human condition? – How can we evaluate the different religious traditions of the world in the light of Christ? – How can we be welcoming and hospitable but also committed to that conversion and transformation of individuals and of human societies which has been revealed as God’s purpose in Christ? Christian claims of uniqueness have a direct bearing on what informs the social order. Consequently this book takes on the challenge of relativism in the contemporary social and political arena. ‘Drawing on unparalleled cross-cultural experiences and wide-ranging scholarship, Michael Nazir-Ali offers a powerful challenge to Christians tempted to dilute their faith in Christ to render it “”relevant.””

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    • Navigating The River Of Grief

      $21.18

      When members of the church experience loss, it can be difficult for pastors to discern how best to care for them. What can spiritual leaders expect in the grief process? What are we to do, to say, to journey with those who have experienced loss? What mistakes might we make that do more harm than good?

      In Navigating the River of Grief, Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates shares the results of her important research into the grief process. Her concept of grief as a river is inspired by several biblical references to water, both its ability to threaten and give life. Bates uses case studies to present grief not as the neat linear progression of stages we’d like it to be; rather, it is a river that sweeps the bereaved along in unpredictable ways. Its choppy waters cause pain and its depths are menacing, but when we understand the flow of its currentas a spiritual journey we can better help the bereaved navigate toward new life.

      Navigating the River of Griefprovides pastors with invaluable resources when providing grief ministry:

      Evidence-based best practices for spiritual counseling
      Case studies to provide context
      Guidance on the use of specific scriptures
      Explorations of theological conflicts

      Together with the Bible itself, Navigating the River of Grief will inform your ministry with spiritual truth about those hours between the night of weeping and the joy the Lord brings in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

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    • John Wesley : Optimist Of Grace

      $44.00

      John Wesley was an Anglican priest and major leader in the eighteenth-century Evangelical awakening whose theology and practice continues to influence the church today. This book tells how his own search for a heart renewed in love ultimately led him to a fresh vision of the way of salvation, one that is centered on sanctification, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and available to all. Transcending the theological dichotomies of his day, Wesley developed a distinctive Protestant tradition that continues to shape Methodist and Holiness Christians, and has had a significant impact on Pentecostalism. It was Wesley’s optimism of grace that gave his Methodists and generations to come a vibrant hope that hearts and lives, churches, and the world at large can all be changed by the power of God’s amazing love.

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    • Studies In Hellenistic Religions

      $49.00

      This selection of essays by Luther Martin brings together studies from throughout his career–both early as well as more recent–in the various areas of Graeco-Roman religions, including mystery cults, Judaism, Christianity, and Gnosticism. It is hoped that these studies, which represent spatial, communal, and cognitive approaches to the study of ancient religions might be of interest to those concerned with the structures and dynamics of religions past in general, as well as to scholars who might, with more recent historical research, confirm, evaluate, extend, or refute the hypotheses offered here, for that is the way scholars work and by which scholarship proceeds.

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    • Beauty And The Horror

      $14.99

      Life is at once wonderful and appalling, beautiful and horrific. Although we can all give meaning to our lives by trying to live well, is there some given meaning to be discovered? Science cannot answer this question, and philosophical arguments leave the issue open. The monotheistic religions claim that the meaning has been revealed to us, and Christians see this is above all in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

      Described by Rowan Williams as “that rarity, a Christian public intellectual,” Richard Harries considers the Christian claim in the context of an in-depth discussion of the nature of evil and how this is to be reconciled with a just and loving God. Drawing on a wide range of modern literature, he argues that belief in the resurrection and hope in the face of death is fundamental to faith, and suggests that while there is no final intellectual answer to the problem of evil, we must all, believer and nonbeliever alike, protest against the world and seek to change it rather than accept it as it is.

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    • Doubters Guide To Jesus

      $18.99

      A Doubter’s Guide to Jesus is an introduction to the major portraits of Jesus found in the earliest historical sources. Portraits because our best information points not to a tidy, monolithic Jesus, but to a complex, multi-layered and, at times, contradictory figure. While some might be troubled by this, fearing that plurality equals incomprehensibility or unreliability, others take it as an invitation to do some rearranging for themselves, trying to make Jesus neater, more systematic and digestible.After two millennia of spiritual devotion and more than two centuries of modern critical research, we still cannot fit Jesus into a box. He is destined to stretch our imaginations, confront our beliefs, and challenge our lifestyles for many years to come.In A Doubter’s Guide to Jesus readers will find themselves both disturbed and intrigued by the images of Jesus found in the first sources.

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    • Forgiveness Leader Guide (Teacher’s Guide)

      $14.99

      In his passionate and life-changing book Forgiveness: Finding Peace Though Letting Go, bestselling author Adam Hamilton shows the same insight that he brought to his popular books Why? Making Sense of God’s Will and Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity. In this new book, Hamilton explores forgiveness in our relationship with God, with our spouses or romantic interests, with our parents and siblings, and with others in our lives. This comprehensive Leader Guide, when used with the DVD, provides everything you’ll need to hold a four-session study of Forgiveness with your group. Inside you’ll find session plans, discussion questions, and activities, as well as suggestions of ways to make the study a meaningful experience for any group.

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    • Forgiveness : Finding Peace Through Letting Go

      $15.99

      If your enemies are starving, feed them some bread; if they are thirsty, give them water to drink. Proverbs 24:17 (CEB) There is nothing more crippling than holding on to anger. Anger, more than any other emotion, has the power to consume all aspects of our lives, distort our sense of purpose, and destroy our relationship with God. In the passionate and life-changing book Forgiveness: Finding Peace Though Letting Go, bestselling author Adam Hamilton brings the same insight that he applied in the bestseller “Why?” to the challenge of forgiveness. Hamilton argues that revelation comes when we realize that forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves rather than to someone else. He also contends that only when we learn to forgive others and ourselves can we truly receive forgiveness from God. “Adam Hamilton not only reminds us about the importance of reconnecting the broken pieces of our lives, but shows how the process of grace and forgiveness is possibly our most complete picture of God.” –Shane Stanford, author of Making Life Matter: Embracing the Joy in the Everyday “The heartbeat of the gospel is grace. With practical insight, Hamilton makes grace understandable–both for seeking and for granting forgiveness. I highly recommend this book.” –Melody Carlson, author of Healing Waters: A Bible Study on Forgiveness, Grace, and Second Chances “Adam Hamilton’s book offers clear guidance for believers struggling with the practical application of our biblical imperative to forgive. It is a must-read for both Christian counselors and every person who has something or someone to forgive.” –Jennifer Cisney Ellers, author of The First 48 Hours: Spiritual Caregivers as First Responders “Deeply rooted in the Bible’s testimony about God’s extravagant mercy, this fine little book explores the Christian call to practice both repentance and forgiveness in the image of God. Straightforward and practical, Hamilton vividly sketches the habits of the heart that discipleship requires in our daily relationships with spouses and intimate life partners, family members, friends and strangers.” –Patricia Beattie Jung, Professor of Christian Ethics, Saint Paul School of Theology

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    • Studies In Hellenistic Religions

      $74.00

      This selection of essays by Luther Martin brings together studies from throughout his career–both early as well as more recent–in the various areas of Graeco-Roman religions, including mystery cults, Judaism, Christianity, and Gnosticism. It is hoped that these studies, which represent spatial, communal, and cognitive approaches to the study of ancient religions might be of interest to those concerned with the structures and dynamics of religions past in general, as well as to scholars who might, with more recent historical research, confirm, evaluate, extend, or refute the hypotheses offered here, for that is the way scholars work and by which scholarship proceeds.

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    • Missiological Research : Interdisciplinary Foundations Methods And Integrat

      $38.81

      This volume is a key reference tool for all researchers delving into the various methods of missiological study. Five units focus on: foundations of missiological research, key aspects of biblical and theological methods, qualitative methods, quantitative and mixed methods for research, and integration of missiological research and the missionary life. Each chapter succinctly summarizes a method, suggests resources for more advanced interaction, and provides an exemplar journal article with abstract. The comprehensive reference volume brings together:

      -14 veteran practitioner-scholars who provide clear and concise guidance to empirical research methodology, biblical-theological inquiry, and the integration of the two interdisciplinary approaches

      -25 appendices to aid the researcher with resources.

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    • Lord Is Good

      $27.99

      1. Simplicity
      2. You Are Good
      3. Goodness And The Trinity
      4. You Do Good
      5. The Good Creator
      6. Goodness And Evil
      7. Teach Me Your Statutes
      8. Goodness And Jesus Christ
      9. Perfection

      Additional Info
      God is good.

      “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” the Psalmist writes (Ps 34:8). And to those who called him good, Jesus said, “No one is good-except God alone” (Mk 10:18).

      In this volume in IVP Academic’s Studies in Christian Doctrine and Scripture series, Christopher R. J. Holmes explores the divine attribute of God’s goodness through a theological interpretation of the Psalter that engages with the church’s rich tradition, including Augustine and Barth, but especially Aquinas. He contends that in the very depths of God’s being, God is goodness itself and that goodness is preeminent among the divine attributes.

      Leading us in this journey through the Psalms and the church’s tradition, Holmes helps us to understand what it means to make that simple affirmation: God is good.

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    • Understanding Sexual Abuse

      $18.99

      Foreword By Debra Hirsch
      Introduction
      1. A Safe Place
      2. Why Abuse Hurts
      3. Justice, Anger, And True Forgiveness
      4. Breaking The Power Of Secrets
      5. What Can Recovery Look Like?
      6. Where Was God?
      7. A Broken Hallelujah
      8. Choosing Life And Learning To Walk Unafraid
      Notes

      Additional Info
      “It is said that the true test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

      As many as one in four girls and one in six boys experience sexual abuse during childhood, and it’s estimated that as many as half of the incidents are never reported. This means that countless millions in our societies, both children and adults, carry this complex, often hidden pain. What does the path to healing look like for survivors? And how can ministry leaders, pastors, and counselors best help them as they walk this difficult road?

      Drawing on both his own experience and his wife’s experience as survivors of childhood sexual abuse, minister and lecturer Tim Hein offers his expertise, practical guidance, and empathy-both for ministry leaders and for survivors themselves. How can we best respond when a survivor shares their secret with us? Where can survivors turn for encouragement when the road to recovery seems so long and lonely? Hein presents clinical data and resources alongside pastoral wisdom and care, addressing both psychological and spiritual aspects of sexual abuse.

      Both for those who have suffered sexual abuse and those in a position to help them, this book is a rich resource. Filled with both sober truths and the hope of Christ, it calls survivors to take courage and walk unafraid down the road of healing.

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    • Story Of Latino Protestants In The United States

      $31.99

      The first major historical overview of one of America’s most vibrant Christian movements

      This groundbreaking book by Juan Francisco Martinez provides a broad historical overview of Latino Protestantism in the United States from the early nineteenth century to the present.

      Beginning with a description of the diverse Latino Protestant community and a summary of his own historiographical approach, Martinez then examines six major periods in the history of American Latino Protestantism, paying special attention to key social, political, and religious issues-including immigration policies, migration patterns, enculturation and assimilation, and others-that framed its development and diversification during each period. He concludes by outlining the challenges currently facing Latino Protestants in the United States and considering what Latino Protestantism might look like in the future.

      Offering vital insights into key leaders, eras, and trends in Latino Protestantism, Martinez’s work will prove an invaluable resource for all who are seeking to understand this rapidly growing US demographic.

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    • Post Christendom 2nd Edition

      $35.00

      Western societies are experiencing a series of disorientating culture shifts. Uncertain where we are heading, observers use “”post”” words to signal that familiar landmarks are disappearing, but we cannot yet discern the shape of what is emerging. One of the most significant shifts, “”post-Christendom,”” raises many questions about the mission and role of the church in this strange new world. What does it mean to be one of many minorities in a culture that the church no longer dominates? How do followers of Jesus engage in mission from the margins? What do we bring with us as precious resources from the fading Christendom era, and what do we lay down as baggage that will weigh us down on our journey into post-Christendom? Post-Christendom identifies the challenges and opportunities of this unsettling but exciting time. Stuart Murray presents an overview of the formation and development of the Christendom system, examines the legacies this has left, and highlights the questions that the Christian community needs to consider in this period of cultural transition.

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    • Small Church Checkup

      $16.00

      Many small membership churches today are faced with the sobering reality of attendance loss and overall decline. This resource provides a guide to help you find hope, alternatives, and the possibility of a new beginning. Included are tools to help you measure your church’s vitality, evaluate the results, and diagnose your church’s condition, along with several options for treatment plans as you seek to faithfully serve your community. Remember that we can choose our story. If we believe in our hearts there is another possibility, we can be faithful in choosing intentional pathways forward that honor God, the church founders, and generations to come. Follow the steps outlined in these pages to evaluate where you are and what the next steps on your journey need to be as you seek to be a “not yet big church,” “a stable, small church,” or a church that chooses to close and be repurposed for unexpected new life.

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    • Post Christendom 2nd Edition

      $55.00

      Western societies are experiencing a series of disorientating culture shifts. Uncertain where we are heading, observers use “”post”” words to signal that familiar landmarks are disappearing, but we cannot yet discern the shape of what is emerging. One of the most significant shifts, “”post-Christendom,”” raises many questions about the mission and role of the church in this strange new world. What does it mean to be one of many minorities in a culture that the church no longer dominates? How do followers of Jesus engage in mission from the margins? What do we bring with us as precious resources from the fading Christendom era, and what do we lay down as baggage that will weigh us down on our journey into post-Christendom? Post-Christendom identifies the challenges and opportunities of this unsettling but exciting time. Stuart Murray presents an overview of the formation and development of the Christendom system, examines the legacies this has left, and highlights the questions that the Christian community needs to consider in this period of cultural transition.

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    • New Copernicans : Understanding The Millennial Contribution To The Church

      $16.99

      In The New Copernicans: Understanding the Millennial Contribution to the Church, author John Seel, PhD, provides a road map to this new millennial landscape, and an antidote to being drawn off course.

      The millennial generation is steering the church in a new direction and is providing a missional opportunity for the church. The church will either follow their lead, or meander in a direction leading them further away from the ultimate path of making disciples.

      Millennials are the carriers of a profound shift in the culture narrative, one that will reshape our understanding of human society in the coming years. Rather than being a problem for the church to lament, this shift represents an occasion to celebrate. Yet it demands being able to understand this direction to a more accurate assessment of human nature and reality.

      In The New Copernicans: Understanding the Millennial Contribution to the Church, author John Seel, PhD, provides a road map to this new millennial landscape, and an antidote to being drawn off course. Rather than give the reader a formula for their local church, Recalculating will provide a lens though which to see the world in the light of the millennial frame. It addresses the “why” questions, empowering the reader to assess their own situation and apply the appropriate direction. It will not advocate “cookie cutter” programs, rather provide a refreshed vision with which to interact along side this important generation.

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    • Remembering The Reformation

      $37.00

      In 1517, Martin Luther set off what has been called, at least since the nineteenth century, the Protestant Reformation. Can Christians of differing traditions commemorate the upcoming 500th anniversary of this event together? How do we understand and assess the Reformation today? What calls for celebration? What calls for repentance? Can the Reformation anniversary be an occasion for greater mutual understanding among Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants? At the 2015 Pro Ecclesia annual conference for clergy and laity, meeting at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, an array of scholars–Catholic and Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and American Evangelical as well as Methodist–addressed this topic. The aim of this book is not only to collect these diverse Catholic and Evangelical perspectives but also to provide resources for all Christians, including pastors and scholars, to think and argue about the roads we have taken since 1517–as we also learn to pray with Jesus Christ “”that all may be one”” (John 17:21).

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    • Remembering The Reformation

      $17.00

      In 1517, Martin Luther set off what has been called, at least since the nineteenth century, the Protestant Reformation. Can Christians of differing traditions commemorate the upcoming 500th anniversary of this event together? How do we understand and assess the Reformation today? What calls for celebration? What calls for repentance? Can the Reformation anniversary be an occasion for greater mutual understanding among Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants? At the 2015 Pro Ecclesia annual conference for clergy and laity, meeting at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, an array of scholars–Catholic and Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and American Evangelical as well as Methodist–addressed this topic. The aim of this book is not only to collect these diverse Catholic and Evangelical perspectives but also to provide resources for all Christians, including pastors and scholars, to think and argue about the roads we have taken since 1517–as we also learn to pray with Jesus Christ “”that all may be one”” (John 17:21).

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    • Thinking With The Church

      $28.00

      Over the centuries, Baptists have labored to follow Christ in faithful devotion and service. More recently, they have occasionally partnered with fellow Christians from other traditions in these efforts while learning from each other along the way. In Thinking With the Church, Derek Hatch argues that Baptists need to follow the same pattern when it comes to their theological reflection, engaging the wisdom of all Christian pilgrims across time. This will require a new theological method–ressourcement–that embraces Baptists’ place within the Great Tradition of the Christian faith. Such work will not abandon long-held Baptist convictions but offers resources for renewing Baptists’ theological vision as they participate in the fullness of the mystical body of Christ.

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    • Bible Matters : Making Sense Of Scripture

      $20.99

      Introduction
      1. The God Who Speaks
      2. God Spoke In The Bible
      3. God Speaks In The Bible
      4. God Speaks Jesus In The Bible
      5. The Bible Is Relational
      6. The Bible Is Intentional
      7. The Bible Is Enough
      8. The Bible Is Reliable
      9. The Bible Is Accessible
      10. Dying To Read The Bible
      Conclusion: Why I Love The Bible
      O Lord Our Rock
      Study Guide
      Notes For Leaders
      Notes
      Further Reading

      Additional Info
      The Bible is God’s Word.

      The Bible teaches us how we should live.

      The Bible is something we should read every day.

      The Bible is something we should delight to read.

      Most of us agree with these statements. At least in theory. But what’s our reality?

      Sometimes reading the Bible is a delight. But if we’re honest, many other times reading the Bible feels like hard work. We read out of a sense of obligation. And some of us have given up entirely.

      Tim Chester reminds us that every time we read the Bible we hear the voice of God. The One who spoke and brought the universe into existence, whose voice thundered from Mount Sinai, and whose words healed the sick is who speaks to us today. So as we read the Bible we don’t merely learn information about God-we hear his voice and encounter his presence.

      Including a study guide for group use, this book helps us approach reading the Bible with an eager anticipation, expecting to hear God’s voice and meet him in his Word. It’s up to us to listen.

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    • Crispina And Her Sisters

      $48.33

      Discovering reliable information about women in early Christianity is a challenging enterprise. Most people have never heard of Bitalia, Veneranda, Crispina, Petronella, Leta, Sofia the Deacon, and many others even though their catacomb and tomb art suggests their authority was influential and valued by early Christian communities. This book explores visual imagery found on burial artifacts of prominent early Christian women. It carefully situates the tomb art within the cultural context of customary Roman commemorations of the dead. Recent scholarship about Roman portrait sarcophagi and the interpretation of early Christian art is also given significant attention. An in-depth review of women”s history in the first four centuries of Christianity provides important context. A fascinating picture emerges of women”s authority in the early church, a picture either not available or sadly distorted in the written history. It is often said “a picture is worth a thousand words.” The portrait tombs of fourth-century Christian women suggest that they viewed themselves and/or their loved ones viewed them as persons of authority with religious influence.

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    • Praying With The Senses

      $37.50

      Indiana University Press

      How do people experience spirituality through what they see, hear, touch, and smell? Sonja Luehrmann and an international group of scholars assess how sensory experience shapes prayer and ritual practice among Eastern Orthodox Christians. Prayer, even when performed privately, is considered as a shared experience and act that links individuals and personal beliefs with a broader, institutional, or imagined faith community. It engages with material, visual, and aural culture including icons, relics, candles, pilgrimage, bells, and architectural spaces. Whether touching upon the use of icons in the age of digital and electronic media, the impact of Facebook on prayer in Ethiopia, or the implications of praying using recordings, amplifiers, and loudspeakers, these timely essays present a sophisticated overview of the history of Eastern Orthodox Christianities. Taken as a whole they reveal prayer as a dynamic phenomenon in the devotional and ritual lives of Eastern Orthodox believers across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

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