Why is it that so many Christians find it difficult to develop a vibrant and exciting prayer life? Even though prayer is foundational to the Christian life, many are intimidated or uncertain about how to talk to God. Prayer feels quaint and old-fashioned to some, sacred and uncomfortable to others. It's not a lack of inspiration--there's plenty of that. And it's not that Christians don't realize prayer is important--they know it is. So what's the issue?

Pastor Chris Hodges has spent years studying the prayers of the Bible and the models of prayer that the scriptures provide for Christians. Now, he shares with readers the teachings and methods he's used to successfully help hundreds of thousands of people understand how to spend time in conversation with God--and enjoy every minute.

Pray First will help readers:

• Gain the understanding and tools to make prayer work--and bring the joy back into their time with God
• Take a journey through the prayers of the Bible, which reveal how to make prayer more personal and powerful
• Learn about fasting, an often overlooked but powerful discipline that's a vital companion to prayer
• Follow proven, biblically grounded methods for making prayer a priority, not an afterthought

Written in the personable, relatable, and always biblically based style that has become Hodges's hallmark, Pray First is a revolutionary how-to manual for all Christians who want to experience a dynamic, intimate prayer life with God.

Make Prayer Your First Response How do you approach prayer? Do you worry you are not doing it "correctly"? Do you see it as an obligation to check off a to-do list? Do you think of it as a last resort-a kind of supernatural SOS when you need help? In this Pray First video Bible study, Pastor Chris Hodges shares proven ways to help you spend time in conversation with God-and enjoy every minute of it. You will gain tools to bring joy back into your time with God, explore prayers in the Bible, learn about fasting (an often overlooked discipline), and discover biblically grounded methods for making prayer a priority and not an afterthought. Pray First is a revolutionary study for anyone who wants to experience a dynamic, intimate prayer life with God. This study guide includes: Individual access to six streaming video sessions A guide to best practices for leading a group Video notes and a comprehensive structure for group discussion time Personal study section with questions and biblical passages for reflection between sessions Sessions and video run times: The Five P's of Prayer (21:00) The Lord's Prayer (20:00) The Prayer of Jabez (16:00) Praying the Names of God (18:30) My Prayer for You (17:00) Prayer and Fasting (21:00) 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 12/31/2028. 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.

Make Prayer Your First Response How do you approach prayer? Do you worry you are not doing it "correctly"? Do you see it as an obligation to check off a to-do list? Do you think of it as a last resort-a kind of supernatural SOS when you need help? In this Pray First video Bible study, Pastor Chris Hodges shares proven ways to help you spend time in conversation with God-and enjoy every minute of it. You will gain tools to bring joy back into your time with God, explore prayers in the Bible, learn about fasting (an often overlooked discipline), and discover biblically grounded methods for making prayer a priority and not an afterthought. Pray First is a revolutionary study for anyone who wants to experience a dynamic, intimate prayer life with God. This study guide includes: Individual access to six streaming video sessions A guide to best practices for leading a group Video notes and a comprehensive structure for group discussion time Personal study section with questions and biblical passages for reflection between sessions Sessions and video run times: The Five P's of Prayer (21:00) The Lord's Prayer (20:00) The Prayer of Jabez (16:00) Praying the Names of God (18:30) My Prayer for You (17:00) Prayer and Fasting (21:00) 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. And the physical DVD. Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2028. 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.

The Journey to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference

The journey toward deeper faith and spiritual maturity is a lifelong pursuit, with plenty of stops and bumps along the way. Inevitably, there comes a point when Christians--new believers and veterans in the faith alike--find themselves asking,

"What do I do next? How do I stay motivated to grow deeper in my relationship with God when I feel complacent, intimidated, or confused? What can I do to get back on track when I hit a spiritual rut?" In Now What?, Chris Hodges reveals the four steps to spiritual maturity: knowing God, finding freedom, discovering purpose, and making a difference. He shows how they are part of both a linear path and a cycle that Christians continue returning to at increasingly deeper levels as they grow. Accessible and clear, concise and profound, Now What? Is a trail guide leading to a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Father and the joy that comes from the journey.

As Christians, how do we not only stay engaged with the ever-shifting, ungodly culture around us but also influence it for good? How do we stand strong without becoming brittle and dogmatic? How do we love people vastly different in their attitudes and lifestyles without compromising our biblical beliefs? These questions are being asked by Christians today from breakfast tables to water coolers to Bible study groups.The book of Daniel provides us with clear answers. At the young age of sixteen, the Babylonians enslaved Daniel and took him from his homeland. Yet for the next seventy years of his captivity, Daniel remained firmly dedicated to God and his faith without yielding to the pagan influences of the culture around him. In so doing, he demonstrates to us today how we can remain standing strong when everyone around us is bowing down to cultural idols.And Daniel did it without becoming rude, insulting, or angry! He understood the goal wasn't to be right but to have influence. Christians are likewise called to take a stand today to reveal God's truth and light, not their own. Daniel showed grace and truth to the people around him-just like Jesus did, and just like we're called to do to a world in desperate need of the gospel.Sessions include:In the World but Not of ItIdentity TheftYou Are What You WorshipWho's the Boss?Divided, Distracted, and DisturbedWhat the World Needs NowDesigned for use with the Daniel Dilemma Video Study (sold separately).

Unpacks unique insights from Jesus' parables that can help us understand and experience the full, transformative life in community we are divinely intended to live. Christ never actually told us how to "do church." Yes, he had a lot to say about the church, but what he did say was mostly unrelated to stylistic issues or contextual trends. He never spoke about its leadership hierarchies or the pros and cons of denominational fellowships or the types of music. And yet, much of our time and energy as leaders and shepherds is consumed by chasing after tips, tricks, and secrets to "grow" churches. While we've tended to focus on church growth through strategies, programs, and metric-based insights, Christ always focused on the heart and the values of the Father, the values that actually change lives and increase the spiritual health of his people. By digging deeply into three important parables: The Parable of the Two Sons The Parable of the Sower The Parable of the Talents Parable Church weaves together personal narratives, unique cultural observations, and compellingly fresh biblical insights to paint a picture of something unimaginably greater than what most people think of when they think of Jesus' Church. Although Jesus never gave us directions for church, he did, through his parables, reveal what we should experience in our communities together--he revealed the culture of his kingdom.

Do you feel guilt and shame about negative thoughts and emotions and your inability to overcome them? Bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges helps those struggling with depression find liberating solutions by drawing from the life of the prophet Elijah. You might be asking, Should a Christian even be having these struggles? Depression is the number one health issue in the world today, yet those who suffer are still sometimes stigmatized-especially followers of Jesus. Many assume God's peace, power, and protection should prevent us from ever feeling anxious, depressed, and afraid. But the Bible teaches otherwise, particularly in its depiction of the life of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. In Out of the Cave, Chris Hodges uses Elijah's life to show us that everyone is susceptible to depression. Even when we're walking closely with God, we can still stumble and get lost in the wilderness of tangled emotions. But we don't have to stay there, because we serve a God who meets us in the darkness. Out of the Cave helps us remove the stigma of depression and realize we're not alone; understand the ways our temperament and view of God affect the way we handle depression; and learn a comprehensive approach to wellness-mind, body, and soul-from Elijah's journey. With his trademark blend of Bible-based wisdom, practical application, and vulnerability in sharing his personal struggles, Hodges explores the causes of depression we can't change, the contributors we can conquer, and offers transformative hope and spiritual power to help us win the battle.

How to embrace God's hope. . .even when darkness is all you can see. Even when we're walking closely with God, we can still stumble and get lost in the wilderness of tangled emotions, loneliness, and depression.In this five-session video Bible study (streaming included), bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges explores the story of the prophet Elijah to reveal how everyone is susceptible to feelings of depression. But Elijah's story reveals that we don't have to stay there! We serve a God who meets us in the darkness. In the book of 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah had just experienced a great victory over the prophets of Baal. God had shown his glory and power before the people. But it only took a death threat from a wicked queen to send Elijah fleeing for his life into the wilderness. And it was there that he fell into a state of depression, praying that he might die and suffering in his loneliness. . . This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including: The study guide itself-with discussion and personal reflection questions, video notes, and Scripture readings. An individual access code to stream all five video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!). Drawing on his trademark blend of Bible-based wisdom, practical application, and personal vulnerability, Pastor Hodges will help you examine the causes of depression, the factors that contribute to it, and will offer you a biblical approach to wellness-mind, body, and soul. Sessions include: Even Prophets Get Depressed How Did I Get in the Cave? Rebuilding Our Emotional House Dream Again We Need Each Other 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.

Bestselling author and influential pastor Chris Hodges uses the wisdom of the book of Daniel to show Christians how to stand firm in their biblical beliefs while still loving people vastly different from them in attitudes and lifestyles.

Christians face a major dilemma today. How can they not only stay engaged with the shifting and increasingly ungodly culture around them but also influence it for good? Is there a way to love people with significantly different attitudes and lifestyles without compromising biblical beliefs? From breakfast tables to boardrooms to Bible studies, Christians are wrestling with these questions today on issues such as politics, gender identity, and the nature of marriage.

Pastor Chris Hodges points readers to the book of Daniel for timely answers and shows how one man with a heart faithful to God remained firm in his faith without yielding to the pagan culture around him or becoming rude, insulting, or mad. Daniel kept God's standards high and his grace deep just as Jesus did. Just as we're called to do when culture shifts.

A Deeper Relationship with God is Closer Than You Think Do you find yourself asking, "What do I do next? How do I stay motivated to grow deeper in my relationship with God when I feel complacent, intimidated, or confused? What can I do to get back on track when I hit a spiritual rut?" In What's Next?, bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges offers a practical guide to all those looking for clarity and direction, and reveals the four steps to spiritual maturity. Chris demonstrates how each step is part of both a linear path and a cycle leading to deeper levels of faith. No matter where you may be on the spiritual spectrum, What's Next? is the guide you need to find your next step, and discover the joy that comes walking the road of richer faith. The What's Next? Study Guide includes video discussion questions, Bible exploration, and personal study and reflection materials for in-between sessions. Sessions include: Start the Journey Know God Find Freedom Discover Purpose Make a Difference Designed for use with the What's Next? Video Study (9780310104148), sold separately. Digital video also available.

The world doesn't dislike Christians because we are godly, honest, and stand for justice. It dislikes us because we can be downright mean! Somewhere in our engagement of culture we have drifted to one of two extremes--compromising on truth or condemning all those who disagree. But Jesus, despite enemies on all sides, somehow managed to speak the truth in love--and calls us to do the same. Whichever ditch you tend to fall into, Rick Bezet wants to help. In Real Love in an Angry World, he calls on believers not to abandon the truth just because they don't want to hurt someone's feelings, but also not to present that truth in angry diatribes on social media. He invites readers to sit in on his real conversations with real people who need to hear the gospel, showing them how it can be done in loving and courageous ways. For anyone unsure if they are doing more harm than good when they talk (or don't talk) about matters of faith, this book offers a compassionate and inspirational corrective.