In 1950, the famous Dominican theologian Yves Congar stated that there were three kinds of reform in Church history, to cure three kinds of corruption. Doctrinal orthodoxy was reformed by General councils. Institutional shortcomings were reformed by administrative means (like codifying Church law). Moral failings were remedied best by the preaching of religious orders. He also added that in the 20th century, since the Church suffered neither heresy nor moral laxity, the only area was institutional reform. He died before the sexual abuse of children came to light. If Congar got it wrong, it suggests that the Church cannot reform itself: or can it? Michael Winter was ordained priest for the Catholic diocese of Southwark in 1955. He worked for nine years as curate and parish priest in a variety of parishes. Later he pursued further studies in theology at the universities of London, Cambridge and Fribourg (Switzerland), where he was awarded the Doctorate in Theology in 1977. He resigned from the clergy in 1986 and turned to university teaching, and writing. Subsequently.

Your brain is always listening and responding to these hidden influences and unless you recognize and deal with them, they can steal your happiness, spoil your relationships, and sabotage your health. This book will teach you to tame the:

• Dragons from the Past that ignite your most painful emotions;
• Negative Thought Dragons that attack you, fueling anxiety and depression;
• They and Them Dragons, people in your life whose own dragons do battle with yours;
• Bad Habit Dragons that increase the chances you’ll be overweight, overwhelmed, and an underachiever;
• Addicted Dragons that make you lose control of your health, wealth, and relationships;
• Scheming Dragons, advertisers and social media sites that steal your attention.

Passing the Plate shows that few American Christians donate generously to religious and charitable causes -- a parsimony that seriously undermines the work of churches and ministries. Far from the 10 percent of one's income that tithing requires, American Christians' financial giving typically amounts, by some measures, to less than one percent of annual earnings. And a startling one out of five self-identified Christians gives nothing at all.
This eye-opening book explores the reasons behind such ungenerous giving, the potential world-changing benefits of greater financial giving, and what can be done to improve matters. If American Christians gave more generously, say the authors, any number of worthy projects -- from the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS to the promotion of inter-religious understanding to the upgrading of world missions -- could be funded at astounding levels. Analyzing a wide range of social surveys and government and denominational statistical datasets and drawing on in-depth interviews with Christian pastors and church members in seven different states, the book identifies a crucial set of factors that appear to depress religious financial support -- among them the powerful allure of a mass-consumerist culture and its impact on Americans' priorities, parishioners' suspicions of waste and abuse by nonprofit administrators, clergy's hesitations to boldly ask for money, and the lack of structure and routine in the way most American Christians give away money. In their conclusion, the authors suggest practical steps that clergy and lay leaders might take to counteract these tendencies and better educate their congregations about the transformative effects of generous giving.
By illuminating the social and psychological forces that shape charitable giving, Passing the Plate is sure to spark a much-needed debate on a critical issue that is of much interest to church-goers, religious leaders, philanthropists, and social scientists.

Psalms vir ’n vreugdevolle lewe is ’n versameling inspirerende aanhalings uit die psalms wat volgens temas ingedeel is. Temas soos lof en aanbidding, rykdom en vertroue op God bring elke leser nader aan God. Psalms vir ’n vreugdevolle lewe bevestig opnuut hoeveel troos en bemoediging die Skrif bied vir elke gelowige wat tot God nader.

'The Abrahamic Archetype' is a major scholarly achievement that sheds light on what is similar and what is distinctive in the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It examines the interplay between outward historical forces in religious and esoteric domains and the inward worlds of transcendent values and ideas. Intellectual archetypes, or constellations of religious and esoteric ideas, are the principles which determine the organic integration of outward historical influences which the various religions encounter and share. Zinner emphasizes the unity and diversity of faith which characterize esoteric traditions of Jewish Kabbalah, Sunni Sufism, Shi'i Gnosis, and Christian theology, especially accentuating the dogmas of the Trinity, Christology, and crucifixion on the one hand, and on the other, esoteric ideas regarding unio mystica (mystical union) in the three Abrahamic faiths. The book contains a detailed reconstruction of the esoteric traditions, theology, and history of Jewish Christianity beginning in the era of Jesus' 'brother' and successor James the Just and elucidates to what extent this Jamesian Christianity might parallel Islamic history and ideas.

The True Story Behind the Powerful Film ALL SAINTS

Newly ordained, Michael Spurlock's first assignment is to pastor All Saints, a struggling church with twenty-five devoted members and a mortgage well beyond its means. The best option may be to close the church rather than watch it wither any further. But when All Saints hesitantly risks welcoming a community of Karen refugees from Burma--former farmers scrambling for a fresh start in America--Michael feels they may be called to an improbable new mission.

Michael must choose between closing the church and selling the property--or listening to a still, small voice challenging the people of All Saints to risk it all and provide much-needed hope to their new community. Together, they risk everything to plant seeds for a future that might just save them all.

Discover the true story that inspired the film while also diving deeper into the background of the Karen people, the church, and how a community of believers rally to reach out to those in need, yet receive far more than they dared imagine.

The Reverend Michael Spurlock served All Saints Episcopal Church in Smyrna, Tennessee, for three years. He is currently on the clergy staff at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City. Michael, his wife, Aimee, and their two children live in New York City..

Of jy vandag leiding nodig het, God wil loof vir sy seëninge, of God se aangesig soek omdat jy mislukking of versoeking ervaar, Beloftes vir elke dag het die inspirasie wat jy nodig het om jou in God se teenwoordigheid te bring. Temas soos beskerming, genade, krag, redding en liefde vir God, en aanhalings deur mense soos Billy Graham en Charles Spurgeon belig God se beloftes aan gelowiges. Dit lei elke leser om te weet dat God elke oomblik by ons elkeen is.

Old Testament heroes are best known for their most celebrated moments: Moses dividing the Red Sea; David slaying Goliath; Gideon routing an insurmountable army; Joshua marching around the defiant walls of Jericho.

And Elijah—calling down fire on Mount Carmel.

Blinded by the remarkable narratives of our biblical heroes, we can forget they each had a backstory—months and years of development, even difficulty, which fortified their spiritual muscle and prepared them for the tasks that made their lives unforgettable.

Every serious believer longs to summon up the kind of boldness and faith that can stand firm on Mount Carmel and pray down heaven into impossible situations. Yet few are willing to go through the process required to get them there. Strength of faith, character, and boldness can only be shaped in the hidden fires of silence, sameness, solitude, and adversity. Those who patiently wait on God in the darkness emerge with their holy loyalty cemented, their courage emblazoned, and their confident belief in Him set afire.

Join Priscilla Shirer on this 7-session journey through the life and times of the prophet Elijah to discover how the fire on Mount Carmel was forged in the valley of famine. And how the emboldened, fiery faith you desire is being fashioned by God in your life right now.

Features:

•Leader guide to help with questions and discussions within small groups
•Personal study segments to complete between 7 weeks of group sessions
•Seven enriching teaching videos, approximately 30–40 minutes per session, available for purchase or rent
•Articles to enhance your study and application of the content

Benefits:

•Understand the value of seasons of growth and testing in your spiritual maturity.
•Be encouraged to wait on God’s good work in your heart and mind, even in seasons when you feel like no one sees.
•Learn to trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God and His purposes for your life.

Geloof soos aartappels is die inspirerende ware verhaal van bekende evangelis Angus Buchan. Dit is ’n getuienis van hoe geloof ’n mens deur die donkerste tye kan dra. Nadat Angus tot bekering gekom het, is hierdie humeurige man wat van sy drank gehou het, verander in ’n passievolle dienaar van God. Sy geloof het hom al deur droogtes, familietragedie en finansiële krisisse gedra. Sedert hy tot bekering gekom het, het Angus die evangelie oor die wêreld heen verkondig. Hy het ook ’n kinderhuis gestig, verskeie boeke geskryf en duisende mense geïnspireer met sy boodskappe op TV, radio en by sy konferensies. Hierdie aangrypende boek sal jou opnuut verseker van God se almag en sy voorsiening vir sy kinders.

Spreuke vir jou daaglikse wandel bied praktiese wysheid vir elke gelowige oor ’n verskeidenheid lewensaspekte. Die versameling bemoedigende teksverse uit Spreuke is tematies gerangskik en bied leiding en insig oor sake soos jou verhoudings, beroepslewe, finansies en ander aspek van die lewe.

Spreuke vir jou daaglikse wandel sal gelowiges met hoop vul en hulle aanmoedig om die lewe te leef wat God vir hulle beplan het.

The 366 daily devotions in A Mustard Seed are dedicated to those believers who have to get up every morning and walk the talk, go through the daily grind and face their day-to-day challenges.

This devotional is for every believer who needs a mustard seed of faith to get through every day so they can walk in the fullness of what God has prepared for them in His kingdom.

’n Omvattende Afrikaanse Studiebybel gebaseer op die vertroude teks van die NLV wat die temas van die Bybel in diepte ontgin.

Die NLV Tematiese Studiebybel is ’n diepgrondige studie oor die temas van die Bybel, gebaseer op die vertroude teks van die Nuwe Lewende Vertaling. Ses van Suid-Afrika se voorste teoloë het saamgespan om die woorde en wêreld van die Bybel vir die hedendaagse leser te ontsluit.

Kenmerke van hierdie unieke Studiebybel:

• Die volledige teks van die Nuwe Lewende Vertaling.
• 'n Inleiding tot elke Bybelboek wat die agtergrond, opbou, outeurskap en boodskap van die boek uiteensit.
• Inleidende artikels tot die Ou en Nuwe Testament, die Pentateug, die historiese boeke, die digterlike en wysheidsboeke, die Profete, Paulus se briewe en die Apokaliptiek.
• 500+ artikels wat die hooftemas van die Bybel ontgin.
• 14 000+ studienotas wat woorde, frases, verse en perikope ontsluit, en konteks, breër agtergrond en dieper insig bied oor die hooftemas van die Bybel.
• 100+ persoonsprofiele oor belangrike Bybelfigure, soos Abraham, Dawid, Maria, Timoteus en Paulus.
• 50+ kaarte en diagramme wat sleutelplekke in die Bybel verhelder.
• Alfabetiese en tematiese indekse.
• Die NLV Tematiese Studiebybel is ’n omvattende hulpmiddel wat Bybelstudie indringend sal verryk.

For many, anxiety is a powerful giant that would like you to believe that your life will never be normal again. A giant that traps you in darkness and defeat. But, you can live free from anxiety.

Knowing first-hand the reality of the battle of anxiety, pastor Louie Giglio shares both practical and spiritual ways to walk in freedom. With encouragement and hope he unfolds the truth in the paradox that anxiety is dead but still deadly—namely, that while the reality of anxiety might be intimidating, there is One whose power has already won the battle.

Putting an X Through Anxiety will show you how to put an "X" through your anxiety using the strongest of weapons: the cross of Jesus. Each day of the journey will help you put one foot forward in the battle, breaking through strongholds where Jesus has already fought for you and won.