One of the most powerful forces in the twenty-first century is the increasing phenomenon of globalization. In nearly every realm of human activity, traditional boundaries are disappearing and people worldwide are more interconnected than ever. Christianity has also become more aware of global realities and the important role of the church in non-Western countries. Church leaders must grapple with the implications for theology and ministry in an ever-shrinking world.
"Globalizing Theology" is a groundbreaking book that addresses these issues of vital importance to the church. It contains articles from leading scholars, including Tite Tienou, Kevin Vanhoozer, Charles Van Engen, M. Daniel Carroll R., Andrew Walls, Vinoth Ramachandra, and Paul Hiebert. Topics covered include the challenges that globalization brings to theology, how we can incorporate global perspectives into our thinking, and the effect a more global theology has on a variety of important issues.

With warmth and encouragement Pastor John Mark Comer, author of ECPA Bestseller The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, offers guidance and advice to help you recognise the lies and resist the forces that seek to steal your happiness, wholeness and holiness. As Christians, we're all at war with three fierce adversaries of the soul that feed us deceptive ideas to harm our spiritual well-being: the world, the flesh and the devil. Live No Lies parses out the tactics, strengths and weaknesses of these enemies, giving you a clear battle plan and spiritual practices to outwit and overcome these evils. Skilfully weaving together uplifting wisdom and reassuring, practical guidance, this is a book for anyone looking for everyday disciplines to help them care for their soul. Live No Lies will equip you with all you need to make practices for resisting evil an active part of your spiritual formation, and leave you motivated to find happiness and peace in Jesus. That tug-of-war in your chest for wholeness? Those lies that sabotage your peace? It's time to identify them, and defeat them.

Daughters of Anowa provides an analysis of the lives of African women today from an African woman's own perspective. It is a study of the influence of culture and religion - particularly of traditional African cultures and Christianity - on African women's lives. Mercy Amba Oduyoye illustrates how myths, proverbs, and folk tales (called "folktalk") operate in the socialization of young women, working to preserve the norms of the community. Daughters of Anowa reveals how global patriarchy manifests itself in these social structures, in both patrilineal and matrilineal communities. Organized as a narrative in three cycles, Daughters of Anowa demonstrates how folktalk alienates women from power, discourages individuality and encourages conformity. It also considers the possibilities for the future. Oduyoye posits that change will come about only when the daughters of Anowa (the mythic representative of Africa itself) confront the realities of culture and religion in perpetuating patriarchal oppression and work to realize the goal of a new woman in a new Africa.

Clare of Assisi: The Lady provides new translations of Clares writings and related primary sources, revised and new introductions from earlier editions, as well as previously unpublished documents to chronicle the life of Saint Clare. The first section presents Clares Letters, Testament, and Blessing. The second section includes the papal texts that prompted Clare to write her own Form of Life. The third section contains biographical writings about Clare beginning with Cardinal Hugolinos 1220 letter and ending with the Legend of Saint Clare. The book concludes with a dossier of documents, many translated into English for the first time, from the papacies of Honorius III, Gregory IX, and Innocent IV.

The role of altars in the realm of existence is very key because altars are meeting places between the physical and the spiritual, between the visible and the invisible. In one word, an altar is a gateway in the realm of the invisible. By implication, therefore, no matter the plan and the purpose of God for your life, family, children, relationships, businesses, communities, and other personal endeavours, you must have the spiritual understanding that, until satanic and demonic altars in your foundation are overthrown, you are most likely to fall short of God's plan for your life. No wonder God commanded Moses, "You must destroy their altars..." (Exodus 34:13-14). In this book, Pastor Uzor Ndekwu draws from his many years of experience as a deliverance minister to explain why you must overthrow foundational altars, and why you must confront demonic or satanic altars erected to hinder or frustrate God's plans for you and your family.

The poor will always be with you, Jesus said - but that doesn't mean Christians have ever figured out how to be with the poor. Pope Francis has emphasized a vision of a "Church that is poor and for the poor." But growing economic inequality continues to spread across the globe. This book takes a fresh look at the role of churches, and individual Christians, in relating to poverty and the poor among them. A strong focus is placed on the biblical and theological roots of the Church's commitment to care for the poor. At times praised as a virtue and blessed as a condition, poverty easily confuses us, and we are often left doing little to nothing to make a difference with and for the poor. As a social evil and a burden, poverty has elicited many kinds of reactions among the followers of Christ. It is time for Christians to figure out what to do about it. Contributors include Pope Francis, Pheme Perkins, Sandra M. Schneider, and Thomas Massaro SJ.

C.S. Lewis's famous work on the nature of love divides love into four categories: Affection, Friendship, Eros and Charity. The first three are loves which come naturally to the human race. Charity, however, the Gift-love of God, is divine in its source and expression, and without the sweetening grace of this supernatural love, the natural loves become distorted and even dangerous.

After a century of study and debate, the doctrine of sanctification, formulated by John Wesley in the 18th century, has resulted in two contemporaneous and competing definitions of entire sanctification in the Nazarene denomination. Mark Quanstom examines the gradual change in understanding this doctrine by focusing on its history and development in a balanced and well-researched perspective. 'Quanstrom effectively follows the various understandings of holiness that have shaped and been shaped by the Church of the Nazarene. His engaging style and clear writing makes this work valuable to laymen, ministers, students, and scholars.' -Dr. John C. Bowling President, Olivet Nazarene University 'This work is a welcome contribution to the contemporary conversation about Holiness theology. Quanstrom's thoughtful and careful scholarship produces a balanced study of the historical development of the understanding of holiness. . . It calls us to an awareness of the dynamic character of this tradition and to an active engagement with the doctrine of Christian perfection that remains at the heart of who we are.' -Dr. Carl M. Leth Chairman Division of Religion and Philosophy, Olivet Nazarene University

This wonderful book looks at the person and work of Christ, from his preexistence and eternal Sonship, through his incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension, to his return. It considers and applies the theological significance of all this, looking especially at how all our salvation is found in Christ. That is, it considers soteriology and the Christian life with and through the lens of Christology. Written in an accessible and devotional manner, with frequent references to historical theologians and their insights, Christ Our Life follows on from the huge success of the author's bestselling work, The Good God (Paternoster, 2012). COMMENDATIONS "Michael Reeves' new and riveting book takes us to the heart of the Gospel in presenting the person of Jesus Christ as our life and our all. With deft and engaging style Reeves demonstrates the love of God in Jesus and we realize again how much we owe to grace. A great sequel to The Good God, this fresh and accessible look at Jesus will warm hearts of faith and will turn seekers to the living God, revealed most clearly in his Son, Jesus Christ. Lively and stimulating - I recommend it warmly." - Michael Parsons, Commissioning Editor, Paternoster; Associate Research Fellow, Spurgeon's College, London

Believe anything you want. The twentieth century has brought with it a myriad of opinions, philosophies, doctrines and ideologies. Each one of them important; each one valid. And the world says, 'Believe what you want.' Authors Wes Tracy and Stan Ingersol have authored Here We Stand to shatter that conclusion. More than ever, it is important that we know what we believe. Here We Stand is a comprehensive study of a wide range of beliefs and where Nazarenes fit into the ideological puzzle. Tracy and Ingersol provide the most contemporary and complete overview of major religions and religious beliefs since Why I Am a Nazarene . Nazarenes have the unique opportunity to reestablish their identity with a new generation of people. Here We Stand gives a clear view into other traditions in a language and approach understood by today's pastors and laymen. Here We Stand contributes to the distinctiveness of each group without sacrificing the Christian community as a whole. Pastors, Sunday School teachers and new Christians will find this unabridged version of the book What Is a Nazarene? an excellent resource because it lends a knowledgeable, objective voice to discussions of doctrine, witnessing and spirituality. Here We Stand provides the historical and theological background needed to establish identity and ownership among new and life-long Nazarenes. Kivar.

A God you can know Is God a wrathful judge? A gentle healer? A father? Brother? Friend? In The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning brings you to a deeper understanding of the true nature of God. Through poignant and unforgettable stories and challenging observations, Manning helps you stretch your mind and reject simplistic explanations of who God really is. With rich insights you'll see how God can at once be a roaring lion, pacing the globe and seeking you out; and simultaneously a tender lamb, there to comfort you in any time of need. A unique experience, this book will forever change the way you think about God. "As I read these honest, grace-saturated, humbly iconoclastic, distinctly un-sugarcoated but still somehow gentle words, I could taste familiar water, living water that only people who are thirsty for life can enjoy. Read it--and hope again!" --from the foreword by Larry Crabb Brennan Manning is a former Franciscan priest and author of a dozen books including the best-selling The Ragamuffin Gospel. He has lived a faithful life of service to others and to God and shares his intellect and love through the words found in this book.

Few words cannot adequately praise this scholarly and uplifting work. Father Jerome Nyathi's treatise on the theology of priesthood and the role of the Father in society is indeed a triumphant first in its field. After an analysis of 'father' and 'priest-father' in linguistic terms and in the broader African context, the author moves on to examine paternalistic religions and a 'male' gendered God, with reference to feminism and structuralist approaches. There is also a section on the family and fatherhood - both in the spiritual and biological sense - offering hope in the face of acute challenges from materialism and the new culture of individualism. The author asks, How can the Church claim to be a 'family in Christ' and her workers in the field 'Fathers of a Christian family when fathers and families have become stigmatised concepts? Furthermore, the author gives well-researched answers to these problems and discusses the call to priesthood with reference to Presbyterorum Ordinis and other Vatican encyclicals. Here we find a message full of intelligence, humanity and optimism, with excellent advice for seminarians and working priest for the new millennium.

In a world of conflict in which religious differences play a significant role, reconciliation grows increasingly important. The Ministry of Reconciliation shows how with a spirituality of reconciliation we can create the spaces in which reconciliation can happen, and with human strategies, how the process of reconciliation can move forward.

From wide-ranging travels Schreiter has gained a profound wisdom and hope as well as the questions and struggles to be faced. In Part One, "Reconciliation as Spirituality, " Schreiter poses this key question: "If God did indeed raise Jesus up to a new life that breaks the grip of violence and sin on the world, what should be the concrete object of our hope?" Each of the next six chapters then meditates on post-Easter appearances as recorded in Scripture. Schreiter's explorations of such events as "the breakfast at the seashore" (John 21:1-17) and "what the women saw" (Mark 16:1-8; John 20:1-18) reveal a direct pastoral style reminiscent of Rahner and Barth at their best.

From this profound and hope-filled beginning Schreiter goes on to emphasize how a spirituality of reconciliation without sound social and theological reflection on its implementation will fail. Part Two, "Elements of a Strategy for Reconciliation, " tackles such vexing questions as individual and social responsibility; truth and justice; amnesty and pardon; and how the church can aid in reconciliation. Schreiter explores questions as: How can forgiveness happen? What is justice, and how should it be sought and administered? How can a society be rebuilt that includes the perpetrators of evil?

This, the second volume of the series, is a selected set of revised versions of the scriptures of the 'less supported' established religions of the world: Jainism, Sikhism, Sufism, Shintoism, Baha'ism, Neo-Paganism; together with works of later mystics and poets, sundry esotera, the Gnostic gospels from Christianity, a couple of apocryphal pieces from Judaism, a conflation of parts of the Kabbalah with Neo-Christian reincarnationist traditions, a heterodox sutra from Hinduism, and a replacement for Psalms. All the texts been transliterated to conform, insofar as that is possible, with modern scientific understanding and a liberal, in its widest sense, political agenda, and hopefully to make them easier to read.

A comprehensive, two-volume reassessment of the quests for the historical Jesus that details their origins and underlying presuppositions as well as their ongoing influence on today's biblical and theological scholarship. Jesus' life and teaching is important to every question we ask about what we believe and why we believe it. And yet there has never been common agreement about his identity, intentions, or teachings-even among first-century historians and scholars. Throughout history, different religious and philosophical traditions have attempted to claim Jesus and paint him in the cultural narratives of their heritage, creating a labyrinth of conflicting ideas. From the evolution of orthodoxy and quests before Albert Schweitzer's famous "Old Quest," to today's ongoing questions about criteria, methods, and sources, A History of the Quests for the Historical Jesus not only chronicles the developments but lays the groundwork for the way forward. The late Colin Brown brings his scholarly prowess in both theology and biblical studies to bear on the subject, assessing not only the historical and exegetical nuts and bolts of the debate about Jesus of Nazareth but also its philosophical, sociological, and theological underpinnings. Instead of seeking a bedrock of "facts," Brown stresses the role of hermeneutics in formulating questions and seeking answers. Colin Brown was almost finished with the manuscript at the time of his passing in 2019. Brought to its final form by Craig A. Evans, this book promises to become the definitive history and assessment of the quests for the historical Jesus. Volume One covers the period from the beginnings of Christianity to the end of World War II. Volume Two covers the period from the post-War era through contemporary debates.

Now with 250K copies in print! Revised and Updated Edition. Anne affirms that Heaven truly is the home of your dreams: a home of lasting value that's fully paid for and filled with family, where you will be wanted and welcomed. Best of all, Heaven is a home you are invited to claim as your own. With over 40 percent new and revised content, Anne Graham Lotz has updated her classic book on Heaven for a whole new generation of readers, and also for herself. With her father, mother, and husband now gone, Lotz beautifully adds her own vulnerability and stories to the journey contained in Heaven: My Father's House. Jesus promised us, "In My Father's house are many rooms...I am going there to prepare a place for you." Amid the turbulence of today's world, we cling to the hope of a heavenly home where we will be welcomed into eternal peace and safety. Anne affirms that Heaven truly is the home of your dreams: a home of lasting value that's fully paid for and filled with family, where you will be wanted and welcomed. Best of all, Heaven is a home you are invited to claim as your own.

"What are Christians to make of their mission in an pluralistic world?" asks Paul F. Knitter, author of the landmark work in interfaith dialogue No Other Name? As a recognized scholar and participant in interfaith dialogue, Knitter is in a unique position to explore the key concept of what Christian mission must entail in a world that will remain a world of many religious faiths for the foreseeable future. From the first chapter of Jesus and the Other Names, which recounts his own theological and dialogical odyssey, Knitter constructs what he calls a "correlational, globally-responsible theology of religions" as a necessary correction to traditional pluralist and exclusivist approaches. By anticipating and addressing his critics - both conservative and liberal - Knitter makes a powerful argument for a reconstruction of mission faithful to the Christian imperative and dynamically attuned to the plurality of the world. Jesus and the Other Names will give pause to those who believe Christian mission can be carried on as it was in the modern era. Sure to inspire debate as well as dialogue it offers a more humble, but perhaps more "Christic", postmodern approach to mission in the new millennium that has little to do with earthly glory and nothing to do with the sense of cultural superiority that has so often - and often so tragicallyaccompanied modern missionary movements. Theologians, missiologists, Christian historians, can all benefit from its thoughtful and timely message.