God loves you and has a wonderful difficult plan for your life. The contemporary church loves to paint Jesus as gentle, meek . . . nice. But in this striking book, Mark Galli introduces us to a different sort of savior--one who often makes other people feel decidedly uncomfortable. Focusing on Jesus as he is portrayed in Mark's Gospel, Galli unveils the power of Christ in his militancy--an aspect frequently ignored in many churches today. Through biblical episodes, stories of saints--classic and contemporary--personal snapshots, and discussion questions, Galli shows that Christ's deep love for his people is richer and more difficult than we imagine. But it is in this persistent, fearsome, and untamed love that we can find true joy. "A well-written, thoroughly researched look at Jesus. Galli's writing is clear and concise, his logic smooth, and his conclusion inescapable."--Publishers Weekly "Mark writes of a Jesus that is unleashed, untamed, undomesticated, and unpredictable. I want to know this Jesus, though he scares me a little."--John Ortberg, teaching pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church "In this wonderfully provocative book, Galli recovers a more multifaceted portrait of Jesus, insisting that Jesus's plan for our lives is demanding and difficult--and in that difficulty we find real love."--Lauren F. Winner, author, Girl Meets God and Real Sex "Finally, a Jesus who was potent enough to cause commotion and even (temporary) chaos."--Scot McKnight, author, The Jesus Creed and Embracing Grace "Can he say that? Galli's vigorous presentation of the 'mean and wild' aspects of Jesus will help clear our vision to behold a Lord who is anything but tame."--Frederica Mathewes-Green, author, The Illumined Heart Mark Galli is the senior managing editor of Christianity Today. A former Presbyterian minister, he is the author or coauthor of several books, including 131 Christians Everyone Should Know and Beyond Smells and Bells.

2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalists -Religion Evangelicalism in America has cracked, split on the shoals of the 2016 presidential election and its aftermath, leaving many wondering if they want to be in or out of the evangelical tribe. The contentiousness brought to the fore surrounds what it means to affirm and demonstrate evangelical Christian faith amidst the messy and polarized realities gripping our country and world. Who or what is defining the evangelical social and political vision? Is it the gospel or is it culture? For a movement that has been about the primacy of Christian faith, this is a crisis. This collection of essays was gathered by Mark Labberton, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, who provides an introduction to the volume. What follows is a diverse and provocative set of perspectives and reflections from evangelical insiders who wrestle with their responses to the question of what it means to be evangelical in light of their convictions. Contributors include: Shane Claiborne, Red Letter Christians Jim Daly, Focus on the Family Mark Galli, Christianity Today Lisa Sharon Harper, FreedomRoad.us Tom Lin, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Karen Swallow Prior, Liberty University Soong-Chan Rah, North Park University Robert Chao Romero, UCLA Sandra Maria Van Opstal, Grace and Peace Community Allen Yeh, Biola University Mark Young, Denver Seminary Referring to oneself as evangelical cannot be merely a congratulatory self-description. It must instead be a commitment and aspiration guided by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. What now are Christ's followers called to do in response to this identity crisis?

Master the craft of effective communication that grabs attention and wins hearts.
Like everyone else, preachers long to be understood. Unfortunately, the rules first learned in seminary, if misapplied, can quickly turn homiletic precision into listener boredom.
To capture heart and mind, Mark Galli and Craig Larsen suggest preachers turn to the lessons of journalism. In Preaching That Connects, they show how the same keys used to create effective, captivating communication in the media can transform a sermon.
Amply illustrated from some of today's best preachers, Preaching That Connects walks through the entire sermon, from the critical introduction to the bridge to illustrations and final application. Key points include the five techniques for generating creative ideas, your six options for illustrations, and the ten rules for great storytelling-and why the transition sentence is the hardest sentence you'll write.
Preaching That Connects is for all who seek to hone their craft to communicate the truth of the gospel effectively.

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Top Shelf Book Cover Award We live in a culture that values activity, achievement and accomplishment. Whether in our careers, churches, schools or families, busyness is the norm in our lives, and anything less makes us feel unproductive and anxious. We have to work all the harder, then, to pursue true rest in a 24-7 world that is constantly in motion. John Koessler understands that rest is not automatic or easy to attain. He names the modern-day barriers to becoming people of rest and presents a unique perspective on how pursuing rest leads us to the heart of God. With honest, biblical reflections on trends in our culture and churches, he exposes our misconceptions regarding the concept of rest, as well as offering correction and practices to align our ideas with God's ideal. The book includes reflection and discussion questions designed for both individual and group use. You will discover the true meaning behind Jesus' idea of the yoke of rest and restoration for your mind, body and soul.

This book offers a succinct yet thorough introduction to 131 of the most intriguing, courageous, inspiring Christians who ever lived. It tells how they lived, what they believed, and how their faith affected the course of world history. Includes a timeline with a historical context for each individual, key quotes from or about each personality, and more than 60 photos.

Too often, we make God too small, too manageable. But careful examination of God's attributes reveals a God full of mystery, eternity, righteousness, and mercy. Now in paper, "A Great and Terrible Love" delivers unexpected glimpses into fifteen classic attributes of God, exposing cheap substitutes and delivering a fresh vision of God.
"This is a very, very rare book. It did what few books I read do to me today--moved me closer to God and deeper in my walk and understanding of who he is."--Bob Roberts Jr., author, "Glocalization"
"Any individual or group who work through these meditations on God will find them full of nourishment."--J. I. Packer, professor of theology, Regent College