It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you've verbalized it yet or not, we all know something's wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself.

Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts—it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

The Gospel of Mark is a 11-week Bible study. It is meant to be more than an intellectual analysis of Mark's gospel. It's a journey intended to lead you along in the footsteps of Jesus as he walks the road from Galilee to Jerusalem. This guide will require more of you than simply reading the Bible and answering a few questions. It'll ask you to engage your heart and your hands as well-feeling the full impact of Mark's writing as well as putting into action the challenges his gospel makes to his reader

David Platt, autor de "Radical," exito del "New York Times, " investiga: Que quiso decir realmente Jesus cuando dijo: "Sigueme"?. Para muchos cristianos, seguir a Jesus es mejor visto desde lejos. Queremos ser discipulos mientras serlo no se entrometa en nuestro estilo de vida, en nuestras preferencias, en nuestras comodidades e incluso en nuestra religion. Y si realmente tomaramos el tiempo de mirar a Jesus a los ojos y ver quien es el realmente? Que tal si en verdad escuchamos las palabras que Jesus esta pronunciando? La invitacion de Jesus para seguirle fue --y todavia es-- una invitacion a una relacion marcada por abnegacion, intimidad personal, ambicion resuelta y alegria infinita. Cuando las personas en verdad se comprometen con esta invitacion personal de Jesus a seguirlo, todo cambia, puesto que es digno de toda nuestra confianza y todo nuestro afecto. Edificando sobre las lecciones de "Radical," este libro nos motivara a todos a experimentar el gran proposito para el cual hemos sido creados: Exaltar la gloria de Dios esparciendo el evangelio de Cristo por toda la tierra, --para hacer discipulos que haran discipulos. David Platt, author of the "New York Times" bestselling book "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, " wants to know" " "What did Jesus "really" mean when He said, 'Follow me'?" For many Christians, following Jesus is seen as best done from a distance. We want to be disciples as long as doing so does not intrude on our lifestyles, our preferences, our comforts, and even our religion. But what if we really took the time to look Jesus in the eye and see who He truly is? What if we really listened to Jesus' words and heard what He is truly saying? Jesus' invitation to follow Him was--and still is--an invitation into a relationship marked by self-denial, personal intimacy, single-minded ambition, and ultimate joy. When people truly engage with Jesus' personal invitation to follow Him, everything changes, for He is worthy of all our trust and all our affections. Building on the lessons in "Radical," this book will motivate all of us to experience the grand purpose for which we have been created: to exalt the glory of God by spreading the gospel of Christ--to make disciples who are making disciples.

Originally published: Colorado Springs, CO: D.C. Cook, 2009.

The powerful, dramatic story of how a successful Hollywood set designer whose identity was deeply rooted in his homosexuality came to be suddenly and utterly transformed by the power of the gospel.

When Becket Cook moved from Dallas to Los Angeles after college, he discovered a socially progressive, liberal town that embraced not only his creative side but also his homosexuality. He devoted his time to growing his career as a successful set designer and to finding "the one" man who would fill his heart. As a gay man in the entertainment industry, Cook centered his life around celebrity-filled Hollywood parties and traveled to society hot-spots around the world--until a chance encounter with a pastor at an LA coffee shop one morning changed everything.

In A Change of Affection, Becket Cook shares his testimony as someone who was transformed by the power of the gospel. Cook's dramatic conversion to Christianity and subsequent seminary training inform his views on homosexuality--personally, biblically, theologically, and culturally--and in his new book he educates Christians on how to better understand this complex and controversial issue while revealing how to lovingly engage with those who disagree. A Change of Affection is a timely and indispensable resource for anyone who desires to understand more fully one of the most common and difficult stumbling blocks to faithfully following Christ today.

In this insightful workbook companion to Crazy Love, Francis Chan reminds us that the creator of the universe loves us with a radical, unconditional, self? sacrificing love. Living Crazy Love is designed to help us move beyond the status quo and pursue and the crazy, relentless, all?powerful love of God The workbook can stand alone or be used alongside the Crazy Love DVD. Francis thought?provoking teaching and the included leaders guide make this a valuable resource for individual study, a seven?week small?group study, churches, youth groups, college campus ministries, and retreat weekends.

Originally published: Colorado Springs, CO: D.C. Cook, 2008.

Planting and leading churches is a difficult calling. It can put strain on your mental and physical health, on your relationships with others, and even your relationship with God. Sifted offers practical guidance and hope for anyone going through a tough time in ministry or pastoral work. Founding pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii Wayne Cordeiro speaks the truth in love, offering wisdom and insight to walk alongside leaders as they face the challenges and hardships of planting and leading churches, while providing encouragement and inspiration for the journey. A seasoned church leader, Wayne shares the things he wishes he'd known when he was starting a new church. With additional stories from Francis Chan and Larry Osborne, each chapter includes a thought-provoking challenge question to develop a heart that is surrendered to God, focused on "being and becoming" versus "doing and accomplishing." Wayne will walk you through how to develop a healthy balance of personal care and spiritual leadership. But instead of a "how to" book on models and methods from men who have it all figured out, Sifted will help you process your journey in a way that: Challenges leaders' common scorecards of success. Encourages leaders to realize that they are not alone in what they are experiencing. Provides wisdom for the long haul to position younger leaders for a life of ministry. You many find yourself in a season of sifting. If you respond correctly, this season can be every bit as important as the time of harvest. Sifting builds the muscle of faith, giving us what we need for what lies just around the corner.

Our appetites dictate the direction of our lives--whether it be the cravings of our stomachs, the passionate desire for possessions or power, or the longings of our spirits for God. But for the Christian, the hunger for anything besides God can be an archenemy, while our hunger for God--and him alone--is the only thing that will bring victory.

Do you have that hunger for Him? As John Piper puts it: "If we don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great." If we are full of what the world offers, then perhaps a fast might express, or even increase, our soul's appetite for God.

Between the dangers of self-denial and self-indulgence is this path of pleasant pain called fasting. It is the path John Piper invites you to travel in this book. For when God is the supreme hunger of your heart, He will be supreme in everything. And when you are most satisfied in Him, He will be most glorified in you.

Bestselling author Chan delivers a timeless parable about a village that employs a rather difficult-to-use tractor to grow food. Everyone thinks that's just how it is . . . until someone discovers a long-forgotten book. Could it reveal the tractor's secrets? Full color.

In this workbook companion to "Forgotten God," author Francis Chan reminds us of the true source of the church's power--the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we've ignored the Spirit for far too long, and that without Him, we operate in our own strength, only accomplishing human-sized results. Offering a compelling invitation to understand, embrace, and follow the Holy Spirit's direction in our lives the workbook is designed to initiate and facilitate both individual study, and small group discussion, interaction and practical application of the message of "Forgotten God." The workbook will stand alone, or can be used alongside the "Forgotten God DVD Study Resource." Francis' thought-provoking teaching makes this a valuable workbook resource for individual study, a seven-week small group study, churches, youth groups, and college campus ministries--and perfect for retreat weekends.

How could a loving God send people to hell? Will people have a chance after they die to believe in Jesus and go to heaven?

With a humble respect for God's Word, Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle address the deepest questions you have about eternal destiny. They've asked the same questions. Like you, sometimes they just don't want to believe in hell. But as they write, "We cannot afford to be wrong on this issue."

This is not a book about who is saying what. It's a book about what God says. It's not a book about impersonal theological issues. It's a book about people who God loves. It's not a book about arguments, doctrine, or being right. It's a book about the character of God.

"Erasing Hell" will immerse you in the truth of Scripture as, together with the authors, you find not only the truth but the courage to live it out.