Through brief meditations on Psalms 88 and 89, Ligon Duncan points to God's promises that sustain Christians even when he seems silent through their suffering.

The most popular source of theological hope for modern Christians is that of Jurgen Moltmann. Preachers, teachers, and lay people reflect Moltmann's influence, with their hope in a this-worldly eschatology and suffering God. However, an exclusive reliance on that hope deprives the church of crucial resources in the face of global economic, environmental, and military crises. Our Only Hope explores Moltmannian hope and considers its costs before looking elsewhere for additional contributions, from Thomas Aquinas' theological virtue of hope to nihilism and beyond, in order to encourage the church to sustain and practise hope in Jesus Christ, our only hope.

According to George Barna, uncovering God's vision for your ministry is not an option. It's essential for the most productive ministry that will accomplish God's goals for building his kingdom. Ministry leaders with a clear picture from God of where they are headed are much more likely to experience a successful journey. In this book, Barna uncovers how God has shared his vision throughout history, how vision is different from mission, common practices and beliefs that inhibit true vision, practical steps toward experiencing and carrying out God's unique vision for them, and ways to share and promote congregational ownership of the vision.

If you've ever confused the ark of the covenant with the ark of Noah, or Jericho with Jeroboam, Max Anders' classic book, 30 Days to Understanding the Bible, is for you. In just fifteen minutes a day, you'll learn the Bible's key people, events, and doctrines to get more out of God's Word. This simple-to-use, straightforward guide has been recommended by Bible teachers and pastors for thirty years, and now it's available in an expanded thirtieth anniversary edition-with the most requested topics from the original edition restored and updated for today's readers. Features include: The "Arc of Bible History" to help you visualize the Bible's overarching themes The "Story of the Bible" summarizing Genesis through Revelation in just a few pages The core beliefs of the Christian faith, focusing on the teachings that have united Christians for the last 2,000 years 13-week plan that provides teacher's every creative and effective tool for teaching the Bible in 30 days Fan-favorite bonus content, previously removed, now restored from the original edition

The minister at Harvard University offers forty sermons addressing such issues as commitment, holiness, and patriotism, and explaining the meaning of the recurring seasons of the church year, from Advent to Pentecost and Trinity.

The shed blood of Christ gives us boldness to enter the Holiest and abide in the presence of God. Through the sprinkling of blood, we can live every day in a place of intimacy with God. This book shows the way by demystifying holiness and making it astoundingly accessible. Discover how you can burn in fiery love and enjoy the ultimate privilege of the universe: access to the Father.

First 30 Days of Walking with Jesus is exactly what it sounds like - a simple and accessible guide that offers 30 days of Bible readings and devotions, along with practical advice, motivation, and additional guides, for anyone starting or restarting their Christian walk. Featuring Bible verses for many of life's questions, it will guide you through various Christian living from worship and loving your neighbour to fear and vulnerability. Drawing on their own experience of the Christian life, well-known TV personalities, Church leaders, and mentors David and Carrie Grant offer compassionate insight and wisdom, alongside contributions from other trusted Church leaders and writers, for anyone seeking to follow Jesus and be His disciple but unsure where to start. The daily devotions are easy to dip and out of, and will encourage and inspire you to live each day with faith and joy in Jesus Christ. The devotions are also undated, so they can be used throughout the year. First 30 Days of Walking with Jesus is an ideal guide to give to new Christian believers, especially as a follow up to Christian courses such as the Alpha Course and Christianity Explored. It's perfect for giving as a confirmation or baptism gift for teens and adults, to help them as they start on their Christian life. This guide will also help those who have drifted from the church but want to reaffirm and refresh their faith. The daily Bible readings and practical advice will help you get back in touch with your spirituality so that you can walk and grow as a Christian alongside Jesus. Whether you are a new disciple or a returning one, anyone who has asked how to be a Christian will find guidance and encouragement in First 30 Days of Walking with Jesus that will help them start their journey to become faithful, spiritually fulfilled disciples.

This resource, written by late counselor David Powlison, seeks to gracefully and humbly encourage pastors to think of counseling as a relational and pastoral task focused on the care and cure of the souls of God's people.

The contemporary Church of England is wrestling with issues around the relationship between its worship and mission and relating both to wider society. Much of this hinges on an understanding of the nature of the Church. Gabriel Hebert's seminal book Liturgy and Society (1935) took as its subtitle, "The Function of the Church in the Modern World". For many this book inspired engagement with Eucharistic worship, with new patterns emerging, paving the way for further liturgical reform in the second half of the twentieth century. Eucharist Shaping and Hebert's Liturgy and Society re-examines Hebert's work, doing so uniquely in the light of the current dialogue about Church, liturgy and mission. Andrew Bishop argues that Hebert's contribution has been overlooked latterly and that a re-appreciation opens up fruitful ways of thinking and acting, making this book a distinctive contribution to a lively debate. If the options are reaction or novelty, Eucharist Shaping and Hebert's Liturgy and Society shows how Hebert's thinking subtly undermines both.

George Whitefield was the leading evangelical clergyman of the eighteenth century and one of the driving forces, humanly speaking, of revivals on both sides of the Atlantic. Yet until now, his sermons have been left as an untapped resource for today's church.

Editor Lee Gatiss has thus reproduced 57 sermons that were originally authorized to be published by Whitefield himself in the late 1700s, in addition to two sermons edited by Gillies for Whitefield's Works, and two more that are of great importance. Gatiss includes careful and extensive footnotes detailing the historical and theological background to Whitefield's preaching, which puts the man and his messages into context for a new generation of readers. The text has also been updated for the twenty-first century with modern grammar, spelling, and punctuation--revised in a manner that leaves Whitefield's distinct voice intact and coherent for today's reader.

Finally, the powerful and passionate preaching that set the world on fire in the Great Awakening is available to all in this two-volume set.

Drawing together original research which weaves together ideas from theology, philosophy, feminism and writing on mothering and child development, Emma Percy affirms and encourages aspects of good practice in ministry that are in danger of being overlooked because they are neither well-articulated nor valued. Offering a fresh look at parish ministry, this book uses a maternal metaphor to provide an integrated image of being and doing. The metaphor of mothering is used to explore the relational aspect of parish ministry which needs to value particularity and concrete contingent responsiveness. Percy suggests virtues that need to be cultivated to guard against the temptations to intrusive or domineering styles of care on the one hand or passive abnegation of responsibility on the other. Parish ministry cannot be understood in terms of tangible productivity; different ways of understanding success and evaluating priorities need to be developed. The book suggests ways of being 'good enough' clergy who can find the right balance between caring for people and communities whilst encouraging and acknowledging the maturity of others.

In 1937, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote "The Cost of Discipleship." Walker brings to a new generation the timeless message of Bonhoeffer against the background of today's political upheaval and societal change and what it means to those who claim to follow Christ's teachings.

This book sets out a Christological framework for developing and delivering pastoral supervision. Pastoral supervision is a key consideration for any denomination, congregation, or faith-based organisation, so this is a vital resource for well-being for clergy, chaplains, and a wide array of pastoral workers. Three central Christological themes, the revealing, re-membering, and restoring Jesus, provide the theological framework for good supervision practice. The book draws insights from three gospel passages--Luke 24:13-34, Luke 22:39-53 and John 21:1-14--for its Christological themes. The practical Christology for pastoral supervision is deepened and extended through three theologians: Martin Luther (reformed), Emil Brunner (neo-orthodox), and James McClendon (small B baptist). Professional supervision (coaching, mentoring, and spiritual direction) is increasingly sought--even required--by many people in church and faith-based organisations. This book will, therefore, be an excellent resource to theologians interested in supervision, practical theology, and Christology.

Celebrate Recovery introduces The Journey Continues-four new participant's guides designed as a revolutionary, new second step study curriculum. This step study is taken after completing The Journey Begins (Participant Guides 1-4). In the five lessons in Guide 6: Asking God to Grow My Character, you will experience Christ-centered and biblically-based studies filled with brand new acrostics, deeper questions, and more helpful Bible verses. The content in Guide 6 will focus on a deeper study of the fourth recovery principle: Openly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself, and to someone I trust. "Happy are the pure in heart" (Matthew 5:8). By working through the lessons and exercises found in each of the four participant's guides of The Journey Continues you will find a deeper sense of true peace and serenity, continue to restore and develop stronger relationships with others and with God, and find deeper freedom from life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits.

Imagine writing a sermon that must be original, insightful, useful, challenging, comforting . . . once a week. That's exactly what most preachers are called upon to do while seeing to all of the other responsibilities that comprise their vocation.

Book four in "The Preacher's Toolbox" series tackles the art and craft of sitting down to face a blank computer screen and coming up with a message that feeds and even entertains the listener. Expert preachers, speakers and teachers share the results of years of doing just that.

Articles include
- "Writing a Good Message in a Bad Week," Scott Wenig
- "Five Hammer Strokes for Creating Expository Sermon Outlines," Jeffrey Arthurs
- "How Prayer Transforms Prep," Michael Lawrence
- "Simply Profound," Duane Litfin
- "If You Dislike Sermon Prep," Bill Hybels - "Getting Out of Preaching Ruts," Matt Woodley
- "Planning Sermon Series," David Daniels
- "Preparing Your Soul to Preach," Pete Scazzerro
- "The Preacher's Study," Kent Hughes
- "Facebook Sermon Prep," Bill White

There is also a special "How I Prepare . . . " section from leading pastors, including
- Timothy Keller
- Mark Driscoll
- Lee Eclov
- Matt Chandler
- Justin Buzzard
- And more

"When I fell ill and stayed ill, I felt like God had chopped me off at the ankles. I yelped in pain and indignation, I felt painfully abandoned, diminished and finished. It took me a long time to learn that God was not out to kill me." Some illnesses begin with a bang, whipped off to hospital or flattened into bed. Other conditions creep in until normal life is no longer normal. Life skills are suddenly out of date. Work, socialising and hobbies are out of reach. It's a new and scary world. Emily Ackerman knows this world only too well. She knows what it feels like to cry out to God to relieve her suffering, to allow her to fulfil her life plans. She knows what it feels like to wait, year after year, while God works through her suffering, to fulfil his plans for her life. This book is about fighting back. It's about reclaiming your life now you're ill, and finding new ways to live well and serve effectively. You'll find survival strategies, encouragement, practical advice and fresh ways to view your situation. God hasn't given up on you: there's good news from the Bible about living abundantly and usefully with illness.

British army chaplains have not fared well in the mythology of the First World War. Like its commanders they have often been characterized as embodiments of ineptitude and hypocrisy. Yet, just as historians have reassessed the motives and performance of British generals, this collection offers fresh insights into the war record of British chaplains. Drawing on the expertise of a dozen academic researchers, the collection offers an unprecedented analysis of the subject that embraces military, political, religious and imperial history. The volume also benefits from the professional insights of chaplains themselves, several of its contributors being serving or former members of the Royal Army Chaplains' Department. Providing the fullest and most objective study yet published, it demonstrates that much of the post-war hostility towards chaplains was driven by political, social or even denominational agendas and that their critics often overlooked the positive contribution that chaplains made to the day-to-day struggles of soldiers trying to cope with the appalling realities of industrial warfare and its aftermath. As the most complete study of the subject to date, this collection marks a major advance in the historiography of the British army, of the British churches and of British society during the First World War, and will appeal to researchers in a broad range of academic disciplines.

Bestselling, Easy-to-Use Spiritual Gifts Resource for Personal Use This trusted spiritual gifts resource has been helping individuals and congregations learn about their unique giftings for generations. Discover Your Spiritual Gifts is the perfect volume for personal study. By using the included questionnaire, you will first be able to identify the unique gifts God has given you. This book will then help you understand what each gift means and how it works, show you biblical and modern-day examples of others who share those gifts, and reveal how you can use yours to better serve God and others.

The simple revolution is here. From the design of Apple products to Google's uncluttered homepage, simple ideas are changing the world.
Now in paperback, multi-awarded #1 national bestseller "Simple Church" guides Christians back to the simple gospel-sharing methods of Jesus. No bells or whistles required. With insights based on case studies of 400 American churches, Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger prove the disciple-making process is often too complex. Simple churches thrive by taking four ideas to heart:
Clarity. Movement. Alignment. Focus.
"
Simple Church" examines each idea, clearly showing why it is time to simplify. This updated trade paper edition includes a new chapter with further insights the authors have gained through hundreds of conversations with church leaders since this landmark book's original release.