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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Christian religious experience > General
An accessible introduction to the Christian faith which helps
readers to grow in their relationship with God. How do I live out
my Christian faith? A-Z of Discipleship is an accessible
introduction to the understanding and practice of the Christian
faith. It presents twenty-six aspects of discipleship to help you
grow in your relationship with God, connect with church and live as
a follower of Christ in contemporary culture. Each topic has: a few
pages of introduction and insight an action section for reflection
and application a prayer to help put the action point into practice
extensive references to allow further study Content Benefits: A-Z
of Discipleship is an accessible look through 26 aspects of the
Christian life that will help people to grow closer in their walk
with God. 26 aspects of discipleship are explored Topics include
the Bible, church, the Holy Spirit, prayer and worship Simple
enough for anyone new to the faith to understand but has enough
depth to help and refresh all believers desiring to deepen their
Christian life Extensive references are included at the end of the
book if the reader wants to study any subject in more detail Each
chapter has teaching around the topic, an action section for
reflecting and thinking deeper, and a prayer prompt to put the
lessons learnt into practice Enables a deeper understanding of
different ways to live out your faith Nurtures a worshipful life
and closer relationship with God Ideal resource to help new
Christians gain a solid foundation in their faith Helps anyone who
struggles with the spiritual disciplines and is looking for
guidance or help Action sections help put theory into practice
Perfect for new Christians Ideal for discipleship courses Ideal for
anyone wanting to deepen their Christian life Suitable for
confirmation or baptism gifts Perfect for taking the next steps
after completing an Alpha course Binding - Paperback Pages - 192
Publisher - Authentic Media
How often have you struggled to help your students really grasp
God's love? How often have you been frustrated by their Sunday
school answers when you try to draw them into the depths of God's
story? You're not alone. Many students (and even youth workers
brave enough to admit it) are experiencing emptiness, lack of
passion, and a growing inability to hear from God. But there is
hope. Just use your imagination... God created our imaginations.
Why not harness them to encounter our creative God in brand new
ways? Try it right now: Picture yourself in a boat with Jesus as
the seas grow rough, as the water crashes over the bow. Notice
what's going on...notice your emotions at this critical moment.
What is your sense of Jesus' presence in the midst of the storm?
The latter is just one example of the many guided exercises within
the pages of Imaginative Prayer for Youth Ministry. You'll find
tools that can help you use imaginative prayer as a means of
experiencing the God who is continually reaching out to us. Invite
your students to open their imaginations (and their five senses) to
God's spirit and allow God to move and speak directly to them
through the 50 imaginative prayer exercises inside. They come
complete with instructions, environment suggestions, and optional
debrief questions-there's even a topical/Scripture reference index
so you can find just the right exercises to suit your needs. If you
want to introduce your students to the God who loves them (in a way
that allows them to truly experience that love), imaginative prayer
is an effective means to do so-you and your students will never be
the same.
Where is God in the suffering of a mentally ill person? What
happens to the soul when the mind is ill? How are Christians to
respond to mental illness? In this brave and compassionate book,
theologian and priest Kathryn Greene-McCreight confronts these
difficult questions raised by her own mental illness--bipolar
disorder. With brutal honesty, she tackles often avoided topics
such as suicide, mental hospitals, and electroconvulsive therapy.
Greene-McCreight offers the reader everything from poignant and raw
glimpses into the mind of a mentally ill person to practical and
forthright advice for their friends, family, and clergy. The first
edition has been recognized as one of the finest books on the
subject. This thoroughly revised edition incorporates updated
research and adds anecdotal and pastoral commentary. It also
includes a new foreword by the current Archbishop of Canterbury and
a new afterword by the author.
A ROAD MAP TO FINDING THE JOY YOU'VE LOST The longing for joy is
one of the deepest yearnings of the human heart. After times of
trial-including the pandemic, economic turmoil, wars and rumors of
war, and grief- our desire rises to the surface demanding relief.
We've had to rally. Yet at some point, we have to replenish our
soul's reserves or we will burn out. In this Resilient study
series, John Eldredge provides the awareness and skills you need to
strengthen your weary soul. Drawing on wisdom from Scripture,
Christian tradition, and practical experiences, Resilient offers
powerful supernatural graces to sustain you through these trying
times as well as prepare you for future storms. Resilient leads you
to the peace only God can give in a world gone mad-and helps you
receive from Jesus the strength that prevails. This study guide
includes: Individual access to five streaming video sessions A
guide to best practices for leading a group Video notes and a
comprehensive structure for group discussion time Personal study
for deeper reflection between sessions Sessions and video run
times: The Strength That Prevails (17:30) Glory or Desolation
(21:00) Unconverted Places (19:30) The Deep Well Inside Us (22:30)
Don't Look Back (26:30) This study guide has everything you need
for a full Bible study experience, including: The study guide
itself-with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a
leader's guide. An individual access code to stream all video
sessions online. (You don't need to buy a DVD!) Streaming video
access code included. Access code subject to expiration after
12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this
package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this
package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited,
taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
As Christian women, we desire to put Jesus first. We want to prioritize
him above all,
knowing instinctively that when we do, everything else in our lives
will fall into
alignment. Yet life feels complicated, and the demands of our daily
lives leave our
priorities out of order and our hearts longing for more.
Author, speaker, and Bible teacher Lisa Whittle is passionate about
helping people
pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in a
world that so
often seems to have gone crazy. In Jesus Over Everything, Lisa shares
eight
statements of choice to help us grow in our understanding of what it
means to put
Jesus first amid the craziness our days bring, including choices such as
- commitment over mood,
- steady over hype,
- holiness over freedom,
- service over spotlight,
- and more.
Jesus Over Everything is a practical, compelling picture of what we
crave yet struggle
to define as we seek to give God his rightful place in our everyday
lives.
What might happen if we live out of loving encounter with God and
build in response to what he reveals? How can we make space to hear
God and say yes to him? What if being a leader is all about being a
follower? Is it really that simple? These are the questions that
have led Jill Weber on the adventure of saying yes to the more of
God - the invitation to really live. This honest, warm and
compelling book speaks directly to those who long to encounter more
of Jesus, to know how tune into the small movements of the heart,
and to have trust in every moment of their lives. With wisdom and
wit Jill explores prayer, discernment, vocation and leadership
through her story of building and becoming a House of Prayer,
offering encouragement that gives readers the confidence to say yes
to what God is already doing. Jill's story will build faith in
readers and help them to discover the freedom that lies beyond that
yes - of giving it all for Jesus. Even the Sparrow is both an
invitation and a challenge - to walk step by step as God leads
might lead us on paths that are at turns messy, complicated and
inconvenient, but as we follow him the path can also be unexpected
and breathtaking beauty.
When Oceans Roar tells the remarkable stories of people who heard
the still small voice of God, and saw God do amazing things when
they took God at his word and surrendered themselves to him. The
stories told in this book represent roads that few people would
have chosen. Yet having said 'yes' to God, and taken the first
step, each one was strengthened, empowered and equipped for the
journey ahead. It includes the story of a couple who prayed over
their child who had no heart beat for three days in the sure
knowledge that God would meet them at their point of need, and of a
Bangladeshi freedom fighter taken before a firing squad only to
learn that God had a plan for his life. This is a book that will
challenge you to find your true identity, and having done so to
step out of complacency and take risks in the sure knowledge that
God will never leave you or forsake you as you surrender yourself
to him. Be inspired to listen out for the still small voice of God
above the ocean's roar.
Why does the allegiance that radical terrorists give to their false
cause exceed the allegiance that most Christians today give to
Jesus Christ? In Insurgence, bestselling author Frank Viola
presents a radical proposal for Christians. Namely, that we have
lost the explosive, earthshaking gospel of the kingdom that Jesus,
Paul, and the other apostles preached. Viola argues that we've lost
this dynamic, titanic, living gospel and exchanged it for a gospel
of religious duty or permissiveness and "easy believism." In
today's politically charged era, Christians on the progressive left
as well as the conservative right both equate their particular
viewpoints with the kingdom of God. Viola challenges and dismantles
these perspectives, offering a fresh and revolutionary look at the
gospel of the kingdom. Viola writes with gripping power,
challenging Christians to embrace an unparalleled allegiance to
Jesus Christ and his kingdom. This high-octane message is being
reclaimed today, launching a spiritual insurgence.
"Over the last twenty years spiritual director, teacher, and
pilgrim Tracy Balzer has made more than a dozen transatlantic
visits to Scotland's Isle of Iona, welcoming the hallowed spaces of
the island to sculpt, bend, and sustain her spiritually. ""It might
be said that Iona has been my spiritual director,"" says Balzer,
for with each visit she is freshly confronted by key questions of
faith: Who am I? Who is God? What am I to do with my life? Set
against the backdrop of Iona's deep Christian history and exquisite
natural beauty, A Journey of Sea and Stone explores these
questions, prompting each of us to reach for meaning in our daily
lives and to consider the myriad ways God might be inviting us into
something new. Tapping our innate desire to seek and find, to
encounter God in creation and in the history of faithful people,
Balzer guides us in our own journeys to cultivate and find
sustenance and connection in sacred spaces. Deep passages of
reflection are complemented by rich illustrations reflecting the
island's stunning terrain and Celtic heritage, providing spiritual
seekers and armchair travelers a fresh entr'e into the world of the
sacred, wherever they may be."
What is the secret to a healthy, happy, fulfilling marriage? Nearly
every marriage starts out happy, and if we're honest, nearly every
marriage at some point becomes unhappy. Is there a solution? Can an
unhappy marriage really get back to being happy? Can it be truly
and authentically happy--even better than it was at first? Kevin
and Marcia Myers, married for thirty-seven years through nearly
every challenge a couple can face, emphatically say yes. Revealing
seven practices that offer help and hope for a happy and enduring
marriage, The Second Happy is a captivating, practical resource
that provides the tools necessary to tune-up, overhaul, or even
rebuild your marriage. Practices to sustain and strengthen marriage
include the following: breaking the quit cycle; picking a fair
fight so both people win; keeping disagreements from escalating;
and removing pretense from your relationship. Rooted in Scripture
and contemporary insights from the Myers' marriage, as well as real
stories from other couples, this revelatory book shows how any
marriage can regain depth, meaning and, yes, happiness.
'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing
shall be well.' This quotation may be all that many people know of
Julian of Norwich, an anchoress from the fourteenth century. This
book seeks to bring to a popular readership a devotional engagement
with Julian's work. The introduction gives a general background to
Julian, the nature of visions in the 14th century and the type of
text Julian gives us, namely a meditative text which intends to
lead the reader to 'beholding'. Each chapter centres on one aspect
or image from Julian's Revelation, which seeks to make the events
of the Passion present to the reader's imagination. The commentary
incorporates reflection, the biblical narrative and Julian's
subsequent teachings to create a meditation that enables the reader
to linger on the wonder of the cross, ending with a prayer that
leads to silence and a thought or verse to carry into daily life.
A moving story of one woman's search for God, truth and fulfilment
which has led to a transformed life and has ultimately witnessed
God's extraordinary healing power. Growing up with a strong sense
of spirituality, Kate searched long and hard throughout the world
to find the God who made sense of that spiritual longing. After
catching glimpses of God in many cultures along the way, Kate
finally found God and her life was transformed for ever. Despite a
highly successful journalistic career, she felt there was a
disconnect between her work and faith, which eventually led her to
work for the charity World Vision where she is now the Chief
Communications Officer. Kate has had some personal battles to face,
including the loss of both her parents, the loss of a baby, and
debilitating ME. She has recently battled breast cancer, from which
God has miraculously healed her. Sea Changed encourages readers to
recognise the unseen hand that shifts our perspective, alters our
trajectory and lifts us up even in our darkest moments.
Luke's Gospel was written to transform. In its original context,
readers would have seen a portrait of Jesus as an ideal teacher and
king, able to shape his people through exemplary leadership. They
would have come to the Gospel expecting to be changed for God's
purposes through the imitation of Jesus' lifestyle and adoption of
his teaching. When today's readers approach the text in the same
way, they can be transformed too. Spiritual Practices of Jesus
explores Luke's portrait of the spirituality of Jesus, focusing on
the themes of simplicity, humility, and prayer in his life and
teaching. After establishing the likely thought patterns of Luke's
first readers, Catherine Wright considers how Jesus models these
three values and then explores how different readers have
understood and employed key Lukan passages for spiritual formation,
beginning with a first-century audience and tracing the reception
of these texts in the ancient church. Demonstrating a theological
interpretation of Jesus' spirituality grounded in church tradition,
this accessible book combines New Testament studies and spiritual
formation to provide fresh insight into the biblical text. Wright
invites readers to join with Luke's earliest readers in adopting
ancient spiritual practices that still hold the potential to
revolutionize our relationships with money, ourselves, others, and
God. Luke's Gospel reveals that as we individually and corporately
imitate Jesus, we live lives of greater authenticity, are oriented
toward his kingdom, and are transformed by his manner of life.
A unique biblical and practical approach to uncluttering our
internal thoughts and feelings. We all want our lives to change for
the better-to become the healthiest versions of ourselves in
spirit, soul, and body. Yet we still struggle. Author Trina
McNeilly, looking for order in her own life, embarked on an inward
journey to the home of her heart and soul to find healing and
health from the inside out. Unclutter Your Soul is for all of us
who are cluttered and overwhelmed with loss, fear, chronic stress,
unhealthy coping mechanisms, crippling depression, or anxiety. With
the Holy Spirit as our guide, Trina says we can learn to observe:
acknowledge the clutter, own: make space for a healthy internal
environment, and overcome: take action with tools for living
clutter-free from the inside out. Each chapter in these three
sections is written as an essay and concludes with practical and
soulful tips as well as prompts to put them into action. With
discussion questions and a prayer guide, Unclutter Your Soul is the
ultimate resource for finding freedom in our everyday lives by
releasing limited mindsets and creating more space for peace and
joy.
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