Drawing on the imagery of the natural rhythms of the created order, Sacred Rhythms explores the practices that spiritual seekers and growing disciples have used throughout history to grow closer to God. In a similar way, the disciplines of the spiritual life are the basic components of the rhythm of intimacy that feeds the soul, keeping Christians open and available to God's surprising initiative in their lives. In this six session video-based study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Ruth Haley Barton provides guidance for you and your group in a way that links the disciplines of the Christian faith to the most compelling desires of the human soul. Each of the following sessions offers specific practices that allow you to experience each discipline and incorporate it into your life. Sessions include: Longing for More Creating Space for God Engaging the Scriptures Flesh and Blood Spirituality Bringing My Whole Self to God A Rule of Life Designed for use with the Sacred Rhythms Video Study (sold separately).

Author and pastor Andy Stanley explains what made the earliest Christian movement so compelling and resilient...and what we need to change today to make it so again. Once upon a time there was a version of the Christian faith that was practically irresistible. After all, what could be more so than the gospel that Jesus ushered in? Why, then, isn't it the same with Christianity today? In this six-session video Bible study (DVD/video streaming not included), Pastor Andy answers questions like: What did first-century Christians know that we don't-about God's Word, about their lives, about love? What did they do that we're not doing? What makes Christianity so resistible in today's culture? What needs to change in order to repeat the growth our faith had at its beginning? Andy is deeply concerned with the present-day church and its future, and he believes that many of the solutions to our issues can be found by investigating our roots. It's time to hit pause and consider the faith modeled by our first-century brothers and sisters who had no official Bible, no status, and little chance of survival. It's time to embrace the version of faith that initiated-against all human odds-a chain of events resulting in the most significant and extensive cultural transformation the world has ever seen. This is a version of Christianity we must remember and re-embrace if we want to be salt and light in an increasingly savorless and dark world. Designed for use with the Irresistible Video Study (9780310100515) and the Irresistible core book (9780310536970), sold separately.

Formation of Character is the fifth volume of Charlotte Mason's Homeschooling series. The chapters stand alone and are valuable to parents of children of all ages. Part I includes case studies of children (and adults) who cured themselves of bad habits. Part II is a series of reflections on subjects including both schooling and vacations (or "stay-cations" as we now call them). Part III covers various aspects of home schooling, with a special section detailing the things that Charlotte Mason thought were important to teach to girls in particular. Part IV consists of examples of how education affected outcome of character in famous writers of her day. Charlotte Mason was a late nineteenth-century British educator whose ideas were far ahead of her time. She believed that children are born persons worthy of respect, rather than blank slates, and that it was better to feed their growing minds with living literature and vital ideas and knowledge, rather than dry facts and knowledge filtered and pre-digested by the teacher. Her method of education, still used by some private schools and many homeschooling families, is gentle and flexible, especially with younger children, and includes first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas through books in each school subject, conveying wonder and arousing curiosity, and through reflection upon great art, music, and poetry; nature observation as the primary means of early science teaching; use of manipulatives and real-life application to understand mathematical concepts and learning to reason, rather than rote memorization and working endless sums; and an emphasis on character and on cultivating and maintaining good personal habits. Schooling is teacher-directed, not child-led, but school time should be short enough to allow students free time to play and to pursue their own worthy interests such as handicrafts. Traditional Charlotte Mason schooling is firmly based on Christianity, although the method is also used successfully by secular families and families of other religions.

A guide to learn the skills you need to understand and apply God's Word. Now revised and updated! Life is a journey, and like any journey, it requires an accurate, reliable roadmap to get us where we need to go. God has provided such a guide in his Word. But just as a navigator needs to learn how to interpret all the contours and symbols of a map, so also we need to be able to understand how the Bible communicates its directions to us. In Journey into God's Word, Second Edition reader's will: Be introduced to the Interpretive Journey, a five-step framework for understanding how to read any Bible passage Learn vital reading skills that aid in their comprehension of not just the Bible, but of any piece of literature Discover the importance of understanding historical-cultural and literary contexts Receive guidance on choosing a Bible translation for their study Be given practical tips for reading specific genres in the Bible like, Gospels, letters, Law, prophecy, poetry, and more Journey into God's Word, Second Edition helps Bible readers acquire these skills and become better at reading, interpreting, and applying the Bible to life. Based on the bestselling college/seminary textbook Grasping God's Word it takes the proven principles from that book and makes them accessible to people in the church. It starts with general principles of interpretation, then moves on to apply those principles to specific genres and contexts. Hands-on exercises guide readers through the interpretation process, with an emphasis on real-life application. This second edition has been revised and updated to match the fourth edition of Grasping God's Word with a five-step Interpretive Journey.

The Christian church hides a multitude of secrets; it is, after all, a mysterious religion. For instance, what if Jesus did not start Christianity? What if Paul, who knew Jesus only through visions, created it? In Cover-Up, author and lay minister Lawrence Goudge disputes the Christian theology that has dominated the world for millennia. G

oudge, who has spent more than twenty-four years researching the suppressed history of Jesus's Jewish followers, demonstrates how the church has corrupted Jesus's message. "Cover-Up "takes an innovative and investigative approach to Christianity, St. Paul's credibility, and ways in which theological truths have been concealed for two thousand years. Goudge's analysis debunks the myths and provides alternative theories. A

s hatred and heresy haunt Christianity's shadows, this study addresses the intolerant nature of the Christian church and sets out to right the wrongs by bringing the truth about the Nazarenes into the light of day. Goudge's message presents hope for a just world.

What You Believe Drives Everything Think about the last time someone put you on the spot, and questioned what this whole Christianity thing is all about. Maybe they asked you why going to church matters, or how you could possibly believe the Bible, or how God could really care if there's so much bad happening in the world. Do you feel unsettled by questions like this? In Think Like Jesus, Randy Frazee wants to give you the confidence to know what you believe, deep down in your heart, and to help you dig into Scripture to see for yourself the biblical foundation for those beliefs. The first five key beliefs deal with our relationship with God: God is the one true God God cares about our daily lives Our salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible is God's roadmap for our lives. We receive a new identity when we embrace these beliefs. The last three key beliefs deal with our relationship with others: God accomplishes his purposes on earth through the Church God calls Christians to see people the same way he does We will be reunited with God and his family in the new heaven and new earth The bottom line is, it's not enough to know what you're supposed to believe. Jesus calls us to live differently. Living differently starts thinking like Jesus so you can act like Jesus and ultimately be like Jesus. Think Like Jesus will help you begin the process of transformation, because the way you behave, the habits you form, and the character that defines you are all driven by what you believe. Sessions include: Who Is God? Does God Care About Me? How Do I Have a Relationship with God? How Does the Bible Guide My Life? Who Am I in Christ? What Is the Purpose of the Church? How Does God Value People? What Is Eternity Going to Be Like? This study is adapted from the Think portions of the Believe Study Guide and Think, Act, Be Like Jesus by Randy Frazee (2015). Designed for use with the Think Like Jesus Video Study available on DVD or streaming video, sold separately.