Showing titles in Church & Church Leadership

At the start of the gay rights movement in 1969, evangelicalism's leading voices cast a vision for gay people who turn to Jesus. It was C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, Francis Schaeffer, and John Stott who were among the most respected leaders within theologically orthodox Protestantism. We see with them a positive pastoral approach toward gay people, an approach that viewed homosexuality as a fallen condition experienced by some Christians who needed care more than cure.

In dark times, God can seem silent. We feel isolated, confused, and alone. Everyone experiences suffering - even the biblical writers express similar feelings in the Psalms. Through brief meditations on Psalms 88 and 89, Ligon Duncan points to hope in the midst of the pain of feeling abandoned by God. These examples of crying out to God show listeners how to respond to their own suffering, and assure them of our heavenly Father's mercy that sustains trust even in the darkest of circumstances.

Digital ministry is complicated and exhausting. You know there’s more to it than just streaming services and posting on social media. But where do you start? Dave Adamson was one of the first online pastors in the world, and he draws on this experience to give church leaders a detailed, practical guide to help them develop a church strategy in which online and on-site ministries work together seamlessly. MetaChurch helps ministries of all sizes effectively use technology to reach people and make disciples.

The enduring influence of the Catholic Church has many sources, but in the first half of the 19th century, the foundations upon which the church had rested were shaken. For many people, liberalism in the guise of liberty, equality, and fraternity was the quintessence of the evils that shook those foundations. At the Vatican Council of 1869-1870, the church made an effort to set things right by defining the doctrine of papal infallibility. Author John W. O'Malley draws us into the bitter controversies over papal infallibility that at one point seemed destined to rend the church in two.

The Reformers viewed the gospel as not merely one thing among many in the life of a church but rather the means by which the church exists. When the gospel is rightly declared and applied to God’s people, the church becomes "a creature of the Word". She understands, embraces, and lives out the reality of Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection in more than her doctrinal statement. The gospel impacts all the church is and does.

Which Jesus do you follow? What does he believe? Or perhaps just as important, what do you believe about him? In The Real Jesus, the debut book from pastor and beloved worship leader Jonathan Stockstill, you will have an encounter with the real-life son of God - the one who loves you more than you could ever imagine.

This audiobook tells the surprisingly exciting tale of Justin of Neapolis, known today as St. Justin Martyr and his encounters with the vigorous early heresies that threatened to paralyze the young Church just as she was struggling to her feet. Scripture Wars is an inspiring, true-life testimony to our Father's providence, a tale that has the power to strengthen the faith of Catholics even today, 18 centuries later.

Rev. Dr. Stephen De Young, creator of the popular The Whole Counsel of God blog and podcast, traces the lineage of Orthodox Christianity back to the faith and witness of the apostles, which was rooted in a first-century Jewish worldview. The Religion of the Apostles presents the Orthodox Christian Church of today as a continuation of the religious life of the apostles, which in turn was a continuation of the life of the people of God since the beginning of creation.

Political and cultural wars are tearing communities apart. Issues such as immigration, racism, and guns are driving wedges between people and hampering Christians' impact in the world. In Empowered to Repair, Brenda Salter McNeil looks to the biblical story of Nehemiah for answers. There, she finds an action-based model for repairing and rebuilding our communities and transforming broken systems. McNeil goes beyond theories, offering practical tools Christians need for organizing, empowering, and activat

This provocative listen is an insightful exploration of Christian living, inviting listeners to consider a new viewpoint, guided by the powerful examples found within the pages of Scripture. From the heartfelt lessons gleaned from Peggy Taylor, a special needs teacher, to the paradigm-shifting teachings of Jesus, McNeese illuminates the transformative power of embracing weakness and humility. The Power Paradox challenges listeners to reconsider traditional notions of power and success.

Parakeets make delightful pets. We cage them or clip their wings to keep them where we want them. Scot McKnight contends that many, conservatives and liberals alike, attempt the same thing with the Bible. We all try to tame it. McKnight's The Blue Parakeet calls Christians to stop taming the Bible and to let it speak anew to our heart. McKnight challenges us to rethink how to read the Bible, not just to puzzle it together into some systematic belief but to see it as a story that we're summoned to enter and to carry forward in our day.

More than 60 percent of young people who went to church as teens drop out after high school. This is a striking and alarming statistic. Now the bestselling author of unChristian trains his researcher's eye on these young believers. Where Kinnaman's first book unChristian showed the world what outsiders aged 16–29 think of Christianity, You Lost Me shows why younger Christians, ages 16–29, are leaving the church and rethinking their faith. Kinneaman offers suggestions on how to help young people develop and maintain a vibrant faith....

Filled with stories of those who have walked the path of deconstruction without losing their faith, Invisible Jesus: A Book about Leaving the Church and Looking for Christ by Scot McKnight with Tommy Phillips is a prophetic call to discern if the faith we practice and the church we belong to is representative of the Jesus we follow.

Based on the popular program first used in dioceses across the United States to form the hearts and minds of Catholic clergy, Be Healed offers a trusted process for finding inner peace and healing, helping people recognize their brokenness and find hope in the risen Christ. This renowned program for spiritual restoration is steeped in scripture and the wisdom of the Catholic Church.

Based upon the biblical principle that everything God has decreed is available to all, this book arms the believer with the kingdom principles that will empower them to use God’s power and authority to enforce, establish, and institute God’s will for their future, and dominate the enemy. Through Hello, Tomorrow! listeners will discover how to build a bridge to their future, put themselves where they see themselves, write their own history, and dare to do something great.

This deeply contextual biography centers on the tensions generated by the pope’s attempt to turn the Church away from power and tradition and outwards to engage humanity with God’s mercy. Through battles with corrupt bankers and worldly cardinals, in turbulent meetings and on global trips, history’s first Latin-American pope has attempted to reshape the Church to evangelize the contemporary age. At the same time, he has stirred other leaders’ deep-seated fear that the Church is capitulating to modernity.

Uncover the Truth Behind Invisible Forces Sabotaging Your Destiny! Are unseen enemies working behind the scenes to hinder your purpose, disrupt your family, and steal your peace? Familiar Spirits Exposed & Defeated unveils the hidden spiritual forces that lurk in the shadows, manipulating lives and sabotaging destinies. It’s time to break free from their grip and step into the victorious life God has designed for you. Why This Book is a Must-Read for You Dive into a groundbreaking exploration of familiar spirits—those deceptive, generational forces that cling to families, behaviors, and...

Planting a church is one of the most exciting adventures you’ll ever embark on. It’s also one of the hardest. It requires initiative, leadership, strategy, systems, and a lot of prayer. In this second edition of Planting Missional Churches, not only will you find a completely redesigned book with new content in every single chapter but you will also find several new chapters on topics such as church multiplication, residencies, multi-ethnic ministry, multisite, denominations and networks, and spiritual leadership.

Sometimes life smacks us upside the head while we are looking the other way. We get knocked down and struggle to get back up. But your past struggles do not determine your future. Using the pain of her past, Nicole Crank walks you through the hurdles meant to keep you down, which will, in turn, bring you closer to God. I Will Thrive gives you the courage to look at your past and be able to declare freedom from fear—allowing a daring spirit to rise up in those who have forgotten how to be brave.

In The Spiritual Life of a Leader, best-selling author Boyd Bailey will help you develop the habits and goals of an effective leader. As you orient your heart toward serving God, you'll grow in your ability to bear spiritual fruit in your workplace, serve your colleagues, and raise up other leaders.