In ten brief sections, this book gives an overview of early church history, its sources, its major contributors and themes. When busy people want to know more about the Bible and the Christian faith, the Zondervan Quick-Reference Library offers an instant information alternative in a manageable length. Covering the basics of the faith and Bible knowledge in an easy-to-use format, this series helps new Christians and seasoned believers alike find answers to their questions about Christianity and the Bible. The information in Early Church History is presented in units of one or two pages, so that each section can be read in a few minutes, covering: Pentecost and Outreach in Jerusalem. Stephen and Philip and their outreach in Judea and Samaria. Peter and the Winds of Change. Paul-his conversion and missionary journeys. The Jerusalem Council. The last four decades of the First Century. The Zondervan Quick-Reference Library makes important knowledge affordable, accessible, and easy to understand for busy people who don't have a lot of time to read or study.

All the verse-by-verse insights of the 12-volume Expositor s Bible Commentary---in 2 convenient volumes. When you want to dig more deeply into the meaning of God s Word, a good expository Bible commentary is ideal. You want more than a simple, one-volume commentary that just scratches the surface. But you don t want a time-consuming multi-volume set laden with fine points you can t use. The Expositor s Bible Commentary Abridged Edition is tailor-made for you. Based on the critically acclaimed Expositor s Bible Commentary used by pastors, students, and scholars across the world, this two-volume abridged edition offers you the full, penetrating, verse-by-verse commentary of the 12-volume series while leaving out needless technical details. Marshalling the knowledge of fifty-two top biblical scholars, it brings tremendous insight to your Bible studies. Covering the Old and New Testaments in separate volumes, this commentary features: *Verse-by-verse exposition of the entire Bible *250 in-text charts, maps, tables, and pictures *Goodrick/Kohlenberger numbers for cross-referencing the Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance and other G/K-numbered resources"

Signs have been almost as much a part of the modern church as the front doors. For that matter, they've been the entry into church life for countless people who have responded to their brief but cogent message. Your church sign has more potential than you may imagine -- if you're smart in using it. Your Church Sign offers you sound pointers on signage. You'll find tips on impactful sign placement, captions, themes, and how to write effective messages. And you'll get more than one thousand ready-made, eye-catching sayings. Some are humorous, some are encouraging, some are wise, some are convicting. All are designed to turn scant seconds of drive-by time into active spiritual awareness. Arranged by theme, Your Church Sign offers captions on: -Marriage and the Family - Prayer - Going to Church - Seasonal Themes - Christian Living - God in Charge - Evangelism - The Bible - Speech . . . and more. Turn to this practical, easy-to-use book for fast ideas and proven advice for helping your church sign make a difference in people's lives.

Fifty-two short devotions based on passages from the Greek New Testament--written by some of the top Greek scholars of today. The main point each devotion offers comes from a careful reading and study of the passage in the Greek New Testament, not from the English Bible. The authors use a variety of exegetical approaches in their devotions: grammatical, lexical, rhetorical, sociohistorical, linguistic, etc. Some insights focus on particular words and their role in the passage, while others highlight background studies or provide a theological reading of the passage. Each devotion draws students into translating a short passage and pursuing an understanding of why this or that insight matters for their lives and ministries. Devotions on the Greek New Testament encourages professors, students, and pastors alike to continue to use their Greek Bibles beyond their seminary years. Celebrated contributors include: Scot McKnight Daniel B. Wallace Craig L. Blomberg Mark Strauss William D. Mounce Devotions on the Greek New Testament can be used as a weekly personal devotional or as a supplemental resource throughout a semester or sequence of courses.

The apostle Paul, one of the most prominent figures in the early Jesus movement, had a lot to say about money. His letters deal with real people as they lived their Christian lives in the Greco-Roman world. He finds it necessary to address "those who are rich in this present world" (1 Tim 6:17). But he also has to address those do not want to work, for whatever reason, and are "idle and disruptive" (2 Thess 3:6). Moreover, whereas most churches today have a certain socio-economic homogeneity, some of Paul's churches had a combination of upper class wealthy people and lower class slaves worshiping side-by-side, and it inevitably created friction (esp. 1 Cor 11:17-34). During the past twenty years a significant amount of research has been done on class-consciousness in the Greco-Roman world and on the significance of Paul's fund-raising venture "for the poor among the Lord's people in Jerusalem"-"the collection"-for his ministry. Relying on the surprising results of current Pauline scholarship and a careful exegesis of a variety of New Testament texts, this book offers a thorough investigation of the apostle Paul's sayings and dealings with money.

Christmas is a time for peace on earth, a time for favorite carols, family dinners, and familiar traditions. It's about a beautiful story of a lovely babe in the manger. Or is it?

"A Not-So-Silent Night" is a revolutionary book that reveals the darker side of Christmas, a side that exposes pain, humiliation, fear, and danger. Though we usually choose to ignore them, these elements--in their cultural and historical context--reveal the true meaning of Christmas where the shadow of the cross is inseparable from the manger. Author Verlyn Verbrugge maintains that until we see the dark side of Christmas, until we shed tears with Mary and Joseph, until we experience the fear that war is on the horizon, we will never truly understand the awesomeness of what happened in that little town of Bethlehem. Timely and provocative, "A Not-So-Silent Night" is perfect for pastors looking for a new approach to their traditional Christmas sermons and for anyone who wants to get past holiday commercialization and get back to the reason for the season.