What was life like for first-century Christians? Imagine a modest-sized Roman home of a well-to-do Christian household wedged into a thickly settled quarter of Corinth. In the lingering light of a summer evening, men, women and children, merchants, working poor and slaves, a mix of races and backgrounds have assembled in the dimly lit main room are are spilling into the central courtyard. This odd assortment of gathered believers--some thirty in number--are attentive as the newly arrived and travel-weary emissary from Paul reads from the papyrus scroll he has brought from their apostolic mentor. But if you were to be transported to this scene you would perhaps be overwhelmed by a flood of unexpected difference. The voice of the reader recedes as through open windows the din and clamor of the city assault your ears. Hooves clunk and cart wheels grind and echo from the street while drivers shout, vendors call and neighbors gather and converse. And later, as you accompany a family through darkened and dangerous streets to their third-story tenement apartment, you might try to mask your shock at the cramped and unsafe conditions. InThe Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era James Jeffers provides an informative and scenic tour of daily life during the time of Jesus and the apostles. He affords "you-are-there" glimpses of everything from legal codes to dinner foods, from social hierarchy to apartment living, from education to family dynamics. His eye-opening book will advance your understanding of the New Testament and early Christianity and enrich your reading and application of the Bible.

You can be the match that ignites a great Bible discussion You only need a few basic skills. This guidebook by Jack Kuhatschek and Cindy Bunch (both veteran discussion leaders and experienced Bible study creators) will show you how to start a group how to decide what to study how to prepare to lead how to study the Bible how to use a study guide how to write your own questions how to lead the discussion how to evaluate the study Over 100,000 copies of this handbook (now revised and expanded from the original, Leading Bible Discussions) have been used by Bible study leaders and Sunday school teachers. Along with practical suggestions and the answers to common questions offered in each brief chapter, you'll find two appendixes: "Guidelines for Interpreting Scripture" and "A Sample Study." The resources section also leads you to more training guides, website references and study guides to use with your group. Here is the help you need to lead a great Bible discussion.

New features of the revised LifeGuides include special options for group activities, additional questions for personal reflection, a "Now or Later" section with practical follow-up activities for use after the study or between sessions, expanded and improved leaders' notes and an attractive, redesigned format for easier reading.

Beginning with the new guides Miracles and Pleasing God (released in February 1999), all new LifeGuides will be presented in the new format. In addition more existing volumes will be revised every year to ensure that all our LifeGuides continue to be effective Bible study resources for the twenty-first century.

Beginning in Genesis the Bible is the story of God pursuing his people. This brief guide gives us a survey of how God reaches out to the world -- through Jesus and through human ambassadors like us. In this guide you will discover your part in God's plan.

The Grail edition of the Psalms, hand-lettered by Trappist monks and set for personal chanting or choir singing.

Read the best news the world has ever been given about the most significant life in all history--Jesus Christ. In "One Perfect Life," Dr. John MacArthur shares with us the complete story of the Eternal Christ from Genesis to Revelation. Using Matthew as the base text, Dr. MacArthur blends the gospels and other biblical material about Jesus into one continuous story that will help you better understand Scripture and grow stronger in your faith. No other harmony of the Gospels includes such extensive study notes to help you unpack the meaning of each verse.

Features include:

• Verse-by-verse explanations from one of the most important pastor-teachers of our time
• Every verse connected to Christ from Genesis to Revelation
• A harmony of the Gospels that demonstrates the inerrancy of Scripture
• New King James translation

What does the New Testament teach about the spiritual gift of prophecy? What is it? How does it function? Can evangelical Christians use it in their churches today?

This updated, comprehensive work answers such questions and points the way to a renewed understanding of the gift of prophecy--an understanding that suggests how the body of Christ may enjoy one of the Holy Spirit's most edifying gifts without compromising the supremacy of Scripture.

"This conservative evangelical scholarly work gives a solid theological basis for further development of a practical theology of spiritual gifts." --John Wimber, Vineyard Christian Fellowship

"Careful, thorough, wise, and to my mind, convincing." --J.I. Packer

..".a fresh, biblically sound, readable contribution...its depth of scholarship, pastoral solidity, and cautions against abuses are special strengths. Highly recommended." --Vern S. Poythress, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Westminster Theological Seminary

"If Grudem's convincing thesis could be heard, a new path of dialog could perhaps be opened up in the Christian community. The research, clarity, and typical Grudem candor continue to make this the finest book on the subject to date." --L. Russ Bush, Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

..".thorough, biblical, and practical. It deserves the attention of all who are concerned about the spiritual development of the church today." --Stanley Horton, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Bible and Theology, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

We're updating and revising our bestselling LifeGuides to make them even more effective for small group Bible study!

New features of the revised LifeGuides include special options for group activities, additional questions for personal reflection, a "Now or Later" section with practical follow-up activities for use after the study or between sessions, expanded and improved leaders' notes and an attractive, redesigned format for easier reading.

Beginning with the new guides Miracles and Pleasing God (released in February 1999), all new LifeGuides will be presented in the new format. In addition more existing volumes will be revised every year to ensure that all our LifeGuides continue to be effective Bible study resources for the twenty-first century.

Genesis tells us that even the giants of faith -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph -- struggled to obey their Creator. But Genesis also reveals the amazing truth that the God who called the world into being also calls each of us to serve him.

In this astute mix of cultural critique and biblical studies, John H. Walton presents and defends twenty propositions supporting a literary and theological understanding of Genesis 1 within the context of the ancient Near Eastern world and unpacks its implications for our modern scientific understanding of origins. Ideal for students, professors, pastors and lay readers with an interest in the intelligent design controversy and creation-evolution debates, Walton's thoughtful analysis unpacks seldom appreciated aspects of the biblical text and sets Bible-believing scientists free to investigate the question of origins.

2009 Christianity Today Merit Award winner 2009 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Christian Book Award winner The Old Testament books of wisdom and poetry carry themselves differently from those of the Pentateuch, the histories or the prophets. The divine voice does not peal from Sinai, there are no narratives carried along by prophetic interpretation nor are oracles declaimed by a prophet. Here Scripture often speaks in the words of human response to God and God's world. The hymns, laments and thanksgivings of Israel, the dirge of Lamentations, the questionings of Qohelet, the love poetry of the Song of Songs, the bold drama of Job and the proverbial wisdom of Israel all offer their textures to this great body of biblical literature. Then too there are the finely crafted stories of Ruth and Esther that narrate the silent providence of God in the course of Israelite and Jewish lives. This third Old Testament volume in InterVarsity Press's celebrated "Black Dictionary" series offers nearly 150 articles covering all the important aspects of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther. Over ninety contributors, many of them experts in this literature, have contributed to the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. This volume maintains the quality of scholarship that students, scholars and pastors have come to expect from this series. Coverage of each biblical book includes an introduction to the book itself as well as separate articles on its ancient Near Eastern background and its history of interpretation. Additional articles amply explore the literary dimensions of Hebrew poetry and prose, including acrostic, ellipsis, inclusio, intertextuality, parallelism and rhyme. And there are well-rounded treatments of Israelite wisdom and wisdom literature, including wisdom poems, sources and theology. In addition, a wide range of interpretive approaches is canvassed in articles on hermeneutics, feminist interpretation, form criticism, historical criticism, rhetorical criticism and social-scientific approaches. The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings is sure to command shelf space within arm's reach of any student, teacher or preacher working in this portion of biblical literature. Tremper Longman III and Peter E. Enns edit this collection of 148 articles by 90 contributors on Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther.

Many Bible scholars believe that the book of Matthew is the most important document of the Christian faith. It connects the Old and New Testaments and introduces a king, the Lord Jesus, and His people, the church. The book of Matthew offers a unique look at the revolutionary life and words of Jesus, and shares His dynamic principles for becoming a faithful subject in the kingdom of God. The Wiersbe Bible Study Series explores timeless wisdom found in God's Word. Based on Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe's popular "BE" series, each study provides topical, relevant insights from selected books of the Bible. Ideal for both individuals and small groups, this ten-week study features excerpted commentary from Be Loyal, engaging questions, and practical applications, all designed to help you connect God's Word with your life.

What reason do you have for believing Christianity is true? The best reason is Jesus himself. James W. Sire invites you to meet Jesus by digging deep into the Bible. You'll discover what Jesus did and said. And you'll be encouraged to decide what place Jesus has in your life today. Whether you are reading the Gospels for the first time or for the fiftieth, you'll find these investigative Bible studies challenging and transforming. This revised LifeGuide Bible Study features additional questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, together with expanded leader's notes and a "Now or Later" section in each study.

We're updating and revising our bestselling LifeGuides to make them even more effective for small group Bible study!

New features of the revised LifeGuides include special options for group activities, additional questions for personal reflection, a "Now or Later" section with practical follow-up activities for use after the study or between sessions, expanded and improved leaders' notes and an attractive, redesigned format for easier reading.

Beginning with the new guides Miracles and Pleasing God (released in February 1999), all new LifeGuides will be presented in the new format. In addition more existing volumes will be revised every year to ensure that all our LifeGuides continue to be effective Bible study resources for the twenty-first century.

After you've met Jesus, you are never the same again. His teaching challenges your thinking. His love turns your life around. In this guide evangelist Leighton Ford will lead you through twelve studies from the four Gospels that will open your eyes anew -- or for the first time -- to Jesus Christ.

The word hospitality brings to mind tables filled with cookies and pots of good coffee. Offering food to friends is a wonderful ministry indeed, but the biblical concept of hospitality is much deeper and more significant. In these studies by Patty Pell, you'll discover the Old Testament call to hospitality as the distinguishing feature of those who are in relationship with God, the outward-focused expression of the grace and provision that one has received from God. In the New Testament the extension of life, provision and protection is expanded as Jesus unpacks image after image of the kingdom of God in the language of host and guests. Come and discover God's call to hospitality.

Times of pain can tear your heart, wound your spirit, and leave you broken and scarred. You long for comfort. And if you seek God, you will find comfort. In the process, you may also find that your suffering is transformed into a source of spiritual growth, wisdom and compassion. As Jack Kuhatschek leads you through these Bible studies on God's comfort, you will discover how to meet God in the midst of your struggles and disappointments and how to receive his strength and grace. This revised LifeGuide Bible Study features additional questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, together with expanded leader's notes and a "Now or Later" section in each study.

God is loving and powerful. He is able to work against some of the strongest forces of hate in the world. You can imitate God's justice by fighting against these same powers in your own life and in the lives of those around you. Taking a fresh look at this theme throughout Scripture, Bob and Carol Hunter challenge you to love justice as God does. And they show you how to work for justice in your everyday life. This revised LifeGuide Bible Study features additional questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, together with expanded leader's notes and a "Now or Later" section in each study.

About LifeGuide Bible Studies We're updating and revising our bestselling LifeGuides to make them even more effective for small group Bible study! New features of the revised LifeGuides include special options for group activities, additional questions for personal reflection, a "Now or Later" section with practical follow-up activities for use after the study or between sessions, expanded and improved leaders' notes and an attractive, redesigned format for easier reading. These Bible studies will help you build a foundation of confidence in God's love for you and equip you to respond to his love by loving others.

More than a generation has passed since the appearance of the last major Catholic Bible dictionary. It has been a fertile generation for biblical scholarship, an eventful time for biblical archaeology, and a fruitful time for the Church's interpretation of the Bible. It is time for a new resource.
Scott Hahn, internationally renowned theologian and biblical scholar, has inspired millions with his insight into the Catholic faith. Now he brings us this important reference guide, written specifically for Catholics, which contains more than five thousand clear and accessible entries and covers a wide range of people, places, and topics. From Genesis to Revelation, the whole of salvation history is presented and explained in smart, easy-to-understand prose.
"Catholic Bible Dictionary "is an invaluable source of information, insight, and guidance for Catholics and others who are interested in enriching their understanding of Sacred Scripture. Scott Hahn draws from two millennia of scholarship to create an accessible and comprehensive tool for deeper and more rewarding biblical study.

When it comes to knowledge of the Bible, many people know bits and pieces, favorite stories and characters, but they don't know the story that is really one story in Scripture. Robbie Castleman will help you put the story of God and his people together so that you'll know how all the parts and people fit, and the stories within the story will make more sense. To study the story of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation in twelve studies is an adventure that will simply make you want to take the trip again.

Winner of the 2008 ECPA Book of the Year Award

The ESV Study Bible was created to help people understand the Bible in a deeper way. Combining the best and most recent evangelical Christian scholarship with the highly regarded ESV text, it is the most comprehensive study Bible ever published.

The ESV Study Bible features more than 2,750 pages of extensive, accessible Bible resources, including completely new notes, full-color maps, illustrations, charts, timelines, and articles created by an outstanding team of 93 evangelical Christian scholars and teachers. In addition to the 757,000 words of the ESV Bible itself, the notes and resources of the ESV Study Bible comprise an additional 1.1 million words of insightful explanation and teaching-equivalent to a 20-volume Bible resource library all contained in one volume. Includes thumb indexes. Black letter text Finest quality European Bible paper Durable Smyth-sewn bindings on all editions Thumb indexes Lifetime guarantee on materials and binding on all leather and TruTone(R) Bibles Free access to the ESV Online Study Bible with purchase of any print edition

We're updating and revising our bestselling LifeGuides to make them even more effective for small group Bible study

New features of the revised LifeGuides include special options for group activities, additional questions for personal reflection, a "Now or Later" section with practical follow-up activities for use after the study or between sessions, expanded and improved leaders' notes and an attractive, redesigned format for easier reading.

Beginning with the new guides Miracles and Pleasing God (released in February 1999), all new LifeGuides will be presented in the new format. In addition more existing volumes will be revised every year to ensure that all our LifeGuides continue to be effective Bible study resources for the twenty-first century.

We live in a fractured world. How can the pieces be put back together? In Ephesians Paul lifts the veil from the future to allow us to see God's plan to unite all the things in Christ. Studying this book will renew your hope.

In the New Testament Gospel of Mark, we meet Jesus, the man who is King. But this king comes to serve--not to be served. He eats with sinners rather than royalty. His crown is made of thorns instead of gold. This study guide introduces you to the compassionate, suffering, astonishing king who calls us to follow him.

"I'll never grow up." Sometimes we all feel a little like Peter Pan. We'd rather be children, free of obligations and responsibilities. Sometimes we even feel that way about our Christian lives. The writers of 1 & 2 Peter and Jude understand how difficult it is to grow into maturity. As Carolyn Nystrom leads us through these letters, we see how God provides direction and comfort when we travel dark roads. And we discover what it takes to be mature in Christ. This revised LifeGuide Bible Study features additional questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, together with expanded leader's notes and a "Now or Later" section in each study.