Christian Living Books
(A)Typical Woman: Free, Whole, and Called in Christ
Seeking to rediscover the full reality of what it means to be female, this book looks to God’s Word as the foundation to help Christian women to live out their callings as free and authentic members of Christ's mission.
A Woman Through and Through
In a culture that can belittle womanhood on the one hand--making it irrelevant--and glorify it on the other--making it everything--it's hard to know what it really means to be a woman. But when we understand womanhood through the lens of Scripture, we see that we need a bigger category for what God has called "woman."
This book breathes fresh air into our womanhood, reminding us what life in Christ--as a woman--looks like. When we see that we are women in all we do, we can be at peace with how God has created us, recognizing womanhood as an essential part of Christ's mission and work.
Now with a redesigned cover.
7 MYTHS ABOUT SINGLENESS
If marriage shows us the shape of the gospel, singleness shows us its sufficiency.
Much of what we commonly assume about singleness--that it is primarily about the absence of good things like intimacy, family, or meaningful ministry--is either flat-out untrue or, at the very least, shouldn't be true. To be single, we often think, is to be alone and spiritually hindered.
But the Bible paints a very different picture of singleness: it is a positive gift and blessing from God. This book seeks to help Christians--married and unmarried alike--value singleness as a gift from God so that we can all encourage singles to take hold of the unique opportunities their singleness affords and see their role in the flourishing of the church as a whole.
A Quiet Life*
BE DYNAMIC: Acts 1-12
"The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity," writes celebrated author and respected pastor Warren Wiersbe. In his first of two books covering Acts, Be Dynamic focuses on Peter's ministry, mostly in Israel and centered in Jerusalem. Through explaining Luke's record of the Gospel's advancement and church expansion, Wiersbe opens the door to understanding the work of the church today.
Using hard-hitting quotes from recognized names like St. Augustine and John Bunyan, Wiersbe proves himself as a well-read author and gifted writer. The depth of his study is astounding, yet the accessibility of his text for every age group is evident as well. He proves what Luke intended-for Acts to be interpreted not as the apostles' glorious acts, but as the life-changing acts of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit lives in believers today, the same God calls followers to expand His church, and the same basic problems still arise within the church, but the same power available then is still available now to change the nations.
Bible History ABCs: God's Story from A to Z
The Story of God's Promises from A to Z
For kids to understand the Bible, they need to see it as one story--God's story of keeping his promises throughout history. This book for kids ages 3-6 follows the timeline of the Bible from A to Z--beginning with Adam, the first man God created, and ending with Zion, the new creation city.
Each letter briefly introduces an important concept from the story of the Bible, and is accompanied by corresponding Scripture passages, whimsical illustrations, and images of classical fine art from church history--all to help children see how their lives are part of the bigger story God is telling through the Bible.
Biblical Theology - 9Marks
Every week, many churches around the world read the Bible but miss the main point—and end up teaching false gospels week in and week out. One of the most important safeguards against this danger is an understanding of biblical theology: reading the Bible in light of its main message, culminating in Jesus Christ.
Starting with a framework for understanding the storyline of the Bible and then explaining basic principles for prioritizing the teaching of this message, this book aims to help churches guard the truth of the gospel.
How does the church guard against false gospels?
Every week, many churches around the world read the Bible but miss the main point--and end up teaching false gospels week in and week out. One of the most important safeguards against this danger is an understanding of biblical theology: reading the Bible in light of its main message, culminating in Jesus Christ.
Starting with a framework for understanding the storyline of the Bible and then explaining basic principles for prioritizing the teaching of this message, this book aims to help churches guard the truth of the gospel.
Part of the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series.
Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation
An Understandable and Reliable Guide to Revelation
Blessed, by bestselling author and speaker Nancy Guthrie, provides individuals and small groups a friendly yet theologically robust guide to understanding the book of Revelation.
Over 12 chapters, Blessed covers the full text of the book of Revelation, exploring its call to patient endurance as God's sovereign plans for judgment and salvation are worked out in the world. In this book, Guthrie shows how Revelation is less about when Jesus will return and more about who we are to be, what we are to do, and what we can expect to endure as we wait for Jesus to return to establish his kingdom in the new creation.
With a friendly and engaging tone, Blessed takes the fear, intimidation, and confusion away from studying Revelation, providing a solid and accessible resource that individuals and small groups can use to study this important yet often avoided book.
Church Discipline - 9Marks
Church discipline is essential to building a healthy church. So how exactly do we practice church discipline?
Jonathan Leeman helps us face the endless variety of circumstances and sins for which no scriptural case study exists, sins that don't show up on any list and need a biblical framework to be corrected appropriately in love.
Here is a contemporary and concise how-to guide that provides a theological framework for understanding and implementing disciplinary measures in the local church, along with several examples of real-life situations and the corresponding responses.
Church discipline is essential to building a healthy church. So how exactly do we practice church discipline?
Jonathan Leeman helps us face the endless variety of circumstances and sins for which no scriptural case study exists, sins that don't show up on any list and need a biblical framework to be corrected appropriately in love.
Here is a contemporary and concise how-to guide that provides a theological framework for understanding and implementing disciplinary measures in the local church, along with several examples of real-life situations and the corresponding responses.
Church Elders - 9Marks
What does effective church leadership look like?
In this conversational book, Pastor Jeramie Rinne sets forth an easy-to-understand "job description" for elders drawn from the Bible's teaching on church leadership.
Offering practical guidance for new elders and helping church members better understand and support their spiritual leaders, this succinct volume will encourage elders to embrace their calling with grace, wisdom, and clarity of vision.
What does effective church leadership look like?
In this conversational book, pastor Jeramie Rinne sets forth an easy-to-understand "job description" for elders drawn from the Bible's teaching on church leadership.
Offering practical guidance for new elders and helping church members better understand and support their spiritual leaders, this succinct volume will encourage elders to embrace their calling with grace, wisdom, and clarity of vision.
Part of the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series.
Church Membership - 9Marks
Why should you join a church?
Becoming a member of a church is an important, and often neglected, part of the Christian life. Yet the trend these days is one of shunning the practice of organized religion and showing a distaste or fear of commitment, especially of institutions.
Jonathan Leeman addresses these issues with a straightforward explanation of what church membership is and why it's important. Giving the local church its proper due, Leeman has built a compelling case for committing to the local body.
Why should you join a church?
Becoming a member of a church is an important, and often neglected, part of the Christian life. Yet the trend these days is one of shunning the practice of organized religion and showing a distaste or fear of commitment, especially of institutions.
Jonathan Leeman addresses these issues with a straightforward explanation of what church membership is and why it's important. Giving the local church its proper due, Leeman has built a compelling case for committing to the local body.
Conversion - 9Marks
How does understanding conversion shape ministry? The way a church operates says alot about how they believe people are saved. When a church truly embraces the Bible's teaching on conversion, they will call people to repentance and faith- not just one-time decisions, therapeutic healings, or moral lifestyles.
This short book was written to help churches rightly understand the difference that a biblical doctrine of conversion should make for teaching, evangelism, discipling, membership and every other facet of the life of a local church.
How Does Understanding Conversion Shape Ministry?
The way a church operates says a lot about how they believe people are saved. When a church truly embraces the Bible's teaching on conversion, they will call people to repentance and faith--not just one-time decisions, therapeutic healings, or moral lifestyles.
This short book was written to help churches rightly understand the difference that a biblical doctrine of conversion should make for teaching, evangelism, discipling, membership, and every other facet of the life of a local church.
Part of the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series.
Corporate Worship - 9Marks
What is worship? Merker believes it is the gathering of the Lord's people, by his grace, for his glory and their good, before a watching world. Offering biblical insights and practical suggestions, Matt examines the congregation's necessity, role, theological rationale, purpose, order, and more. Includes sample orders of service. 176 pages, hardcover from Crossway.
What Is the Role of Corporate Worship in the Church?
Christians worship God at church every week, but many don't know exactly what worship is or why they do it. For some, it's a warm-up for the sermon. For others, it's a "me-and-Jesus" moment. What is the biblically informed way to view corporate worship?
In this book, Matt Merker shows that corporate worship is the gathering of God's people by his grace, for his glory, for their good, and before a watching world. He offers biblical insights and practical suggestions for making worship what it truly is meant to be: a foretaste of God's people worshiping together for eternity in the new creation.
Deacons - 9Marks
There's some confusion about the role deacons play within the church. What's their biblical job description and how do they relate to Christ's overall mission? Offering practical guidance, Smethurst shows that deacons are model servants, called to meet tangible needs, preserve unity in the flock, support the ministry of the elders, and more. 176 pages, hardcover from Crossway.
How Can Deacons Mobilize Service in the Church?
Deacons are essential to a church's health--yet confusion abounds regarding their biblical job description. What's their God-given role in a local congregation and how do they relate to the church's overall mission?
In this short book, Matt Smethurst makes the case that deacons are model servants called to meet tangible needs, organize and mobilize acts of service, preserve the unity of the flock, and support the ministry of the elders. Clearing away common misconceptions, Smethurst offers practical guidance for deploying deacons and helping churches to flourish.
Download eighteen free sample questions for deacon candidates.
Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners
"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." --2 Peter 3:18
How do Christians grow? Few question the call of the Bible to grow in godliness, but the answer to exactly how this happens is often elusive.
In this book, Dane Ortlund points believers to Christ, making the case that sanctification does not happen by doing more or becoming better, but by going deeper into the wondrous gospel truths that washed over them when they were first united to him.
Drawing on wisdom from figures throughout church history, Ortlund encourages readers to fix their gaze on Jesus in the battle against sin, casting themselves upon his grace and living out their invincible identity in Christ.
Demystifying Decision-Making: A Practical Guide
Drawing Closer to God One Decision at a Time
On an average day, people make countless decisions: Should I get out of bed or hit the snooze button? What should I have for breakfast? Where should we go for this year's vacation? While some decisions are easy to make, others can leave individuals paralyzed and full of anxiety. As Christians living in an increasingly individualistic society, what's the best strategy for making decisions that honor God while becoming more like him in the process?
Writing from her own experience and pointing to biblical examples, Aimee Joseph offers a biblical and theological framework for decision-making. She explains God's design for humans as decision-makers, the biblical model for making choices, common wrong approaches, practical tips, and what to do when you've made a poor decision. With the philosophy that "as we shape our decisions, our decisions shape us," Joseph teaches readers how to worship and draw closer to Christ through their daily decisions.
Do You Believe? 12 Historic Doctrines to Change Your Everyday Life
Bestselling Author Paul David Tripp Unpacks 12 Doctrines for Everyday Christian Living
Doctrine--what Christians believe--directly influences how they live. The biblical truths about God, humanity, and the world are not merely about knowing more--they are also about loving God and making sense of this life and the life to come. But what happens when there is disparity between what believers confess and how they live?
In his latest book, Do You Believe?, pastor and bestselling author Paul David Tripp takes a close look at 12 core doctrines and how they engage and transform the human heart and mind. According to Tripp, "true belief is always lived." To demonstrate, he unpacks each doctrine and presents its relevance for the Christian life. As readers explore topics such as the doctrine of God, the holiness of God, and the doctrine of Scripture, they will be fueled to fall deeper in love with and stand in awe of their Creator and Father--putting the truths of God's word on display for all the world to see.
Don't Waste Your Life (Redesign)
Piper has a passionate message for today's generation: Life is short---make yours count! Dare to live for the "great and glorious things that matter"---take risks in relationships for the sake of righteousness, in financial decisions for the cause of the gospel, and in witnessing to the truth and beauty of Christ. Paperback with French flaps.
Over 650,000 Copies Sold
"If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full."
The American Dream beckons people to spend their lives on trivial diversions, slipping through life caught up with seeking success, comfort, and pleasure above all else. But God designed people for far more than this.
In this best-selling book, John Piper makes a passionate plea to the next generation to avoid the dangers of a wasted life, calling us to take risks and make sacrifices that matter for eternity--with a single, soul-satisfying passion for the glory of God that seeks to make much of him in every sphere of our lives.
Eschatological Discipleship
EVANGELISM - 9Marks
Evangelism is more than a program.
Every few years, churches jump into the latest evangelistic fad. Leaders administrate the new program, and members go on a raid. But picture a church where evangelism is simply part of the culture. Leaders share their faith consistently and openly. Members follow, encouraging one another to make evangelism an ongoing way of life.
Such is the way of evangelism presented by this brief and compelling book. No program here. Instead, it just might give your church a new way to live and share the gospel together.
Finish the Mission
Here's a breath of fresh fire to reignite God's mission! From astronomy and exegesis to apologetics and the Global South, from engaging in local missional opportunities to using our wealth for the worldwide advancement of the gospel, Louie Giglio, David Platt, John Piper, and others encourage us to work toward the Spirit-led completion of Jesus' Great Commission. 192 pages, softcover from Crossway.
This is no ordinary missions book. The theme isn't new, but the approach is refreshing and compelling, as contributors David Platt, Louie Giglio, Michael Ramsden, Ed Stetzer, Michael Oh, David Mathis, and John Piper take up the mantle of the Great Commission and its Spirit-powered completion.
From astronomy to exegesis, from apologetics to the Global South, from being missional at home to employing our resources in the global cause, Finish the Mission aims to breathe fresh missionary fire into a new generation, as together we seek to reach the unreached and engage the unengaged.
Go: Returning Discipleship to the Frontlines of Faith
Drawing on a 2015 Barna Group study of the state of discipleship in the United States commissioned by The Navigators, bestselling author Preston Sprinkle provides a holistic, biblical response for discipleship, providing accessible tools for all those who are engaged in making Christ-followers in the 21st century. Sprinkle points pastors, church leaders, and frankly, all Christ-followers, to a discipleship that is responsive to this most current research and accountable to the model of Jesus and his earliest followers, who counted making disciples as their most important work.
In an extremely practical fashion, Go helps us to discern, from the Scriptures and from exemplary disciple-making ministries, what discipleship is and is not, what it has become and what it can still be.
God - Big Theology for Little Hearts
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Big Theology for Little Hearts
"Big Theology for Little Hearts will engage our children and launch us into teaching our little ones about our Lord."
--Christopher W. Morgan, Dean and Professor of Theology, California Baptist University
Each book in the Big Theology for Little Hearts series introduces a big idea from the Bible with concise definitions and engaging illustrations to help young minds gain a foundational understanding of God's word.
With each volume written to complement all the others, this series is designed to help children develop a cohesive framework of theology that includes God, creation, humanity, Jesus, and the gospel-allowing you to start having crucial conversations with your children as early as possible.
Gospel People: A Call for Evangelical Integrity
A Biblical Case for the Importance and Goodness of Being "Evangelical"
The term evangelical is often poorly defined and frequently comes with cultural and political baggage. As the label has become more controversial, many Christians have begun to wonder if they should abandon it altogether.
Michael Reeves argues from a global, scriptural, and historical perspective that, while it's not necessary to discard the label altogether, Christians must return to the root of the term--the evangel, or "gospel"--in order to understand what it truly means. He identifies the theology of evangelicalism and its essential doctrine--the Father's revelation in the Bible, the Son's redemption in the gospel, and the Spirit's regeneration of the heart--calling believers to stand with integrity as people of the gospel.
Gospel-Centered Discipleship
Everyone's idea of discipleship is different. Some people emphasize evangelism-sharing their faith. Still others promote a hierarchical system for spiritual growth, a way for older Christians to pass on best practices to younger believers. Yet, both ideas are incomplete. Real discipleship is so much more.
Avoiding extremes and evaluating motives, Jonathan Dodson's Gospel Centered Discipleship insists on a way of following Jesus that re-centers discipleship on the gospel.
This book helps us understand and experience the fullness of discipleship as God intended. It combines the mess and the weight, the imperfection and transformation, the honesty and wonder of being a disciple who revolves around Jesus. Here is a practical guide to discipleship that is Spirit-filled, Christ-centered, field-tested, and easily implemented.
Everyone's idea of discipleship is different. Some people emphasize evangelism--sharing their faith. Still others promote a hierarchical system for spiritual growth, a way for older Christians to pass on best practices to younger believers. Yet, both ideas are incomplete. Real discipleship is so much more.
Avoiding extremes and evaluating motives, Jonathan Dodson insists on a way of following Jesus that re-centers discipleship on the gospel.
This book helps us understand and experience the fullness of discipleship as God intended. It combines the mess and the weight, the imperfection and transformation, the honesty and wonder of being a disciple who revolves around Jesus. Here is a practical guide to discipleship that is Spirit-filled, Christ-centered, field-tested, and easily implemented.
Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make
When you say “I do,” you begin the journey of a lifetime— and you have dreams of that journey being perfect. But it won’t take long for expectations of the perfect marriage to fade away in the struggles of everyday life. A long-term, vibrant marriage needs to be grounded in something sturdier than romance—it needs the life-changing power of the gospel.
In this rebranded edition of What Did You Expect?, popular author and pastor Paul David Tripp encourages couples to make six biblical commitments to the Lord and to one another. These commitments, which include a lifestyle of confession and forgiveness, building trust, and appreciating differences, will equip couples to cultivate thriving, joy-filled marriages built on Christ.
Updated with Discussion Questions and Two Bonus Chapters
When you say "I do," you begin the journey of a lifetime-- and you have dreams of that journey being perfect. But it won't take long for expectations of the perfect marriage to fade away in the struggles of everyday life. A long-term, vibrant marriage needs to be grounded in something sturdier than romance--it needs the life-changing power of the gospel.
In this rebranded edition of What Did You Expect?, popular author and pastor Paul David Tripp encourages couples to make six biblical commitments to the Lord and to one another. These commitments, which include a lifestyle of confession and forgiveness, building trust, and appreciating differences, will equip couples to cultivate thriving, joy-filled marriages built on Christ.
NECESSARY ENDINGS: THE EMPLOYEES BUSINESS AND RELATIONSHIP
"Cloud is a wise, experienced, and compassionate guide through [life's] turbulent passages." --Bob Buford, bestelling author of Halftime and Finishing Well; founder of the Leadership Network
Henry Cloud, the bestselling author of Integrity and The One-Life Solution, offers this mindset-altering method for proactively correcting the bad and the broken in our businesses and our lives. Cloud challenges readers to achieve the personal and professional growth they both desire and deserve--and gives crucial insight on how to make those tough decisions that are standing in the way of a more successful business and, ultimately, a better life.
New Morning Mercies
Over 1 Million Copies Sold
365 Gospel-Centered Devotions for the Whole Year
"If you're prone to wander, this book is for you." --Matt and Lauren Chandler, Lead Pastor, The Village Church, Dallas, Texas; President, Acts 29 Church Planting Network; and his wife Lauren, writer; speaker; singer
"Paul's writing encourages those who have grown weary of the struggle, living under the weight of the world." --TobyMac, hip hop recording artist; music producer; songwriter
Mornings can be tough. Sometimes, a hearty breakfast and strong cup of coffee just aren't enough. Offering more than a rush of caffeine, best-selling author Paul David Tripp wants to energize you with the most potent encouragement imaginable: the gospel.
Forget "behavior modification" or feel-good aphorisms. Tripp knows that what we really need is an encounter with the living God. Then we'll be prepared to trust in God's goodness, rely on his grace, and live for his glory each and every day.
NINE MARKS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH (P)
You may have read books on this topic before--but not like this one. Instead of an instruction manual for church growth, this classic text offers tried and true principles for assessing the health of your church. Whether you're a pastor, a leader, or an involved member of your congregation, studying the nine marks of a healthy church will help you cultivate new life and well-being within your own church for God's glory.
This classic guide has been recently revised to include a new foreword as well as updated content, illustrations, and appendices.
Radically Whole: Gospel Healing for the Divided Heart
Everyone longs for wholeness and honesty in their lives. In reality, people are often double-minded—pulled between good and evil—in their speech, actions, and character. These rifts can be spiritually and relationally devastating. So how does God heal a fractured heart?
This exploration of the New Testament book of James helps readers identify double-mindedness in their own lives and understand God’s grace as he “pulls apart the divided heart to make it whole.” Explaining James’s challenging epistle chapter by chapter, David Gibson helps readers embrace the painful yet profound process of redemption, defeat double-mindedness, and experience wholeness in every area of their lives.
An Expository Journey through the Book of James Helps Christians Move from Double-Mindedness to Wholeness
Everyone longs for wholeness and honesty in their lives. In reality, people are often double-minded--pulled between good and evil--in their speech, actions, and character. These rifts can be spiritually and relationally devastating. So how does God heal a fractured heart?
This exploration of the New Testament book of James helps readers identify double-mindedness in their own lives and understand God's grace as he "pulls apart the divided heart to make it whole." Explaining James's challenging epistle chapter by chapter, David Gibson helps readers embrace the painful yet profound process of redemption, defeat double-mindedness, and experience wholeness in every area of their lives.
Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ is Essential
The pandemic, political dissension, racial division, abuse scandals---contemporary churches are navigating a lot of potholes, and some wonder if it's really worthwhile to gather each week. Hansen and Leeman say yes! Underscoring the importance of in-person preaching, teaching, membership, and more, they remind readers that the discipline of being physically present is vital to God's mission. 160 pages, softcover from Crossway.
"A Christian without a church is a Christian in trouble."
Since a global pandemic abruptly closed places of worship, many Christians have skipped church life, even neglecting virtual services. But this was a trend even before COVID-19. Polarizing issues, including political and racial strife, convinced some people to pull away from the church and one another. Now it's time to recommit to gathering as brothers and sisters in Christ.
In Rediscover Church, Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman discuss why church is essential for believers and God's mission. Through biblical references and personal stories, they show readers God's true intention for corporate gathering: to spiritually strengthen members as individuals and the body of Christ. In an age of church-shopping and livestreamed services, rediscover why the future of the church relies on believers gathering regularly as the family of God.
Published in partnership with the Gospel Coalition and 9Marks.
Reedeming Our Thinking About History: A God-Centered Approach
Christians reject a cyclical view of history where events recur repeatedly for no apparent purpose. God is in control. There's a beginning and end, with a fourfold creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. What are the implications, then, for analyzing the past, writing a coherent history, and interpreting God's ongoing will?
Why Is It Critical for Christians to Study the Past?
How does knowledge of the past shape Christians' views of God, Christ's redemption, and humanity as a whole? In his new book, Vern S. Poythress teaches Christians how to study and write about the past by emphasizing God's own command to remember his works and share them with the next generation. Readers will explore concepts such as providentialism, Christian historiography, divine purpose, and the 4 basic phases of biblical history: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. By learning how to appropriately study history, believers will begin to recognize God's lordship over all events and how even minor incidents fit into his overarching plan.
Rethink Your Self: The Power of Looking Up Before Looking In
Follow your heart. You do you. You are enough.
We take these slogans for granted, but what if this path to personal happiness leads to a dead-end? In Rethink Your Self, Trevin Wax encourages you to rethink some of our society’s most common assumptions about identity and the road to happiness.
Most people define their identity and purpose by first looking in (to their desires), then looking around (to express their uniqueness), and finally—maybe—looking up (to add a spiritual dimension to life). Rethink Your Self proposes a counter-intuitive approach: looking up before looking in.
It's only when we look up to learn who we were created to be that we discover our true purpose and become our truest selves.
Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in Love
Sound Doctrine is a short primer on the key doctrines of holiness, love, unity, worship, and witness. In a careful and well-written treatise, Bobby Jamieson walks us through these crucial doctrines, revealing their importance to our mind and heart―to our individual lives and the community of faith.”
How do you feel about doctrine?
Whatever answer comes to mind, this book will not only convince you that sound doctrine is vital for living a godly life, it will also explain the essential role of theology in the life of a healthy church.
After all, thinking rightly about God affects everything, from guiding us in practical issues to growing a church's unity and witness.
This short, readable book shows how good theology leads to transformation, life, and joy.
Suffering Wisely and Well: The Grief of Job and the Grace of God
Why is there suffering? How can we align ourselves with God's outworking through adversity? Exploring trials throughout Scripture, Ortlund reveals their spiritual purpose---and the promise of restoration. He analyzes the Lord's response to Job's questions, the imagery of Leviathan and Behemoth, and more. Discover how to deepen your relationship with God and offer comfort to others! 192 pages, softcover from Crossway.
Why Suffering Exists: God's Purpose for Pain in the Life of Job and throughout Scripture
Why does God allow suffering? The pain of suffering can be overwhelmingly mysterious, but the Bible does provide answers. Throughout Scripture, God allows trials in order to accomplish specific purposes in the lives of his people. When faced with suffering they experience spiritual growth; repentance from sin; or, as in the Old Testament story of Job, the chance to demonstrate devotion to God in the face of inexplicable agony.
In Suffering Wisely and Well, Eric Ortlund explores different types of trials throughout Scripture, revealing the spiritual purpose for each and reassuring readers with God's promise of restoration. The majority of the book focuses on Job, one of the most well-known yet misunderstood stories of suffering. Ortlund thoughtfully analyzes the text chapter by chapter, including the doubt of Job's friends, God's response to Job's questions, and the meaning behind important imagery including references to Leviathan and Behemoth. Suffering Wisely and Well shows readers how to deepen their relationship with God during painful experiences in their own lives and how to comfort others who are hurting.
Surprised By Jesus
When God-in-the-flesh showed up twenty centuries ago in Palestine, the religious PhDs rejected him and the prostitutes and social outcasts flocked to him. Why? Because the open welcome of divine grace that Jesus offers, open to anyone who would simply leave their moral resume at home, is not predictable. It is not safe. It is subversive...
In this book, Dane Ortlund reflects on this subversive grace as it uniquely emerges in each of the four Gospel accounts. In each Gospel, the message and mission of Jesus is deeply surprising:
- In Matthew, we see the surprise of disobedient obedience.
- In Mark, we see the surprise of the king undergoing the fate of a criminal.
- In Luke, we see the surprise of the insiders becoming outsiders and the outsiders becoming insiders.
- In John, we see the surprise of the Creator of the universe becoming one of his own creatures.
Such surprises confound our law-marinated hearts. But the good news that Jesus won with his own blood will not be tamed. This good news is defiant. This book exists to exult in this good news and the scandalous mercy Jesus loves to pour out on needy sinners—on people like you and me.
The Beginning of the Gospel: A Theology of Mark
Understanding Mark in the Context of the Old and New Testaments
The book of Mark--the first and shortest Gospel written--serves as both a historical and theological account, connecting Jesus to the whole storyline of the Bible. Mark writes against the backdrop of the Old Testament and draws from other New Testament writers, specifically Peter and Paul, to articulate many themes that are found in the rest of the New Testament.
In this addition to the New Testament Theology series, scholar Peter Orr offers an accessible summary of the theology of Mark, examining its relationship to both the Old and New Testaments. Each chapter focuses on a key theological theme--the identity of Christ, the announcement of the kingdom, the call to follow, and more--and explains how it is relevant for the church today.
The Frightening Philippi Jail
In The Frightening Philippi Jail, Paul and Silas praise the Lord in a difficult and unfair situation.
<pThe House that Jack Built, using rhyme to introduce preschoolers through second graders to favorite Bible stories. Gary has a well-developed talent for creating engaging narratives that also teach biblical truths through rhyme.
In The Frightening Philippi Jail, Paul and Silas praise the Lord in a difficult and unfair situation.
The Gospel Comes With a House Key
Winner of the 2019 Christianity Today Book Award in the Christian Living & Discipleship Category
"This book is going to shake us all up in the most wonderfully destabilizing way." --Ray Ortlund, Lead Pastor, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee
What did God use to draw a radical, committed unbeliever to himself? Did God take her to an evangelistic rally? Or, since she had her doctorate in literature, did he use something in print? No, God used an invitation to dinner in a modest home, from a humble couple who lived out the gospel daily, simply, and authentically.
With this story of her conversion as a backdrop, Rosaria Butterfield invites us into her home to show us how God can use this same "radical, ordinary hospitality" to bring the gospel to our lost friends and neighbors. Such hospitality sees our homes as not our own, but as God's tools for the furtherance of his kingdom as we welcome those who look, think, believe, and act differently from us into our everyday, sometimes messy lives--helping them see what true Christian faith really looks like.
The Joy of Hearing: A Theology of the Book of Revelation
Join New Testament scholar Thomas Schreiner as he explores the meaning and purpose of the book of Revelation.
The book of Revelation can feel more intimidating to read than other books of the Bible. It invites readers into a world that seems confusing and sometimes even strange: golden lampstands, seven seals, a dragon, and a rider on a white horse. But at its core, Revelation is a message of hope written to Christians facing hardship, and it's worth the effort to read it and understand it.
In this first volume in the New Testament Theology series, trusted scholar Thomas Schreiner walks step-by-step through the book of Revelation, considering its many themes--the opposition believers face from the world; the need for perseverance; God as sovereign Creator, Judge, and Savior--as well as its symbolic imagery and historical context. The Joy of Hearing brings clarity to the content and message of Revelation and explores its relevance for the church today.
The Mission of the Triune God: A Theology of Acts
Understanding Luke's Narrative in the Book of Acts
The book of Acts is unlike any other in Scripture; it has no rival in terms of a book spanning so many different lands. Written by a Gentile, it recounts the birth of the church age and the lives of early Christians that serve as lasting examples for the church today. When believers see how these events worked together to fulfill God's promises, they gain a better understanding of the Trinitarian heart of Acts.
In The Mission of the Triune God, author Patrick Schreiner argues that Luke's theology stems from the order of his narrative. He shows how the major themes in Acts, including the formation of the church, salvation offered to all flesh, and the prolific spread of the gospel, connect. Through Schreiner's clear presentation and helpful graphics, readers follow the early church as it grows "all under the plan of God, centered on King Jesus, and empowered by the Spirit."
Until Unity
What Is a Healthy Church?
What is an ideal church, and how can you tell?
How does it look different from other churches? More importantly, how does it act differently, especially in society? Many of us aren't sure how to answer those questions, even though we probably have some preconceived idea. But with this book, you don't have to wonder any more.
Author Mark Dever seeks to help believers recognize the key characteristics of a healthy church: expositional preaching, biblical theology, and a right understanding of the gospel. Dever then calls us to develop those characteristics in our own churches. By following the example of New Testament authors and addressing church members from pastors to pew sitters, Dever challenges all believers to do their part in maintaining the local church. What Is a Healthy Church? offers timeless truths and practical principles to help each of us fulfill our God-given roles in the body of Christ.
When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace
Simons has discovered the truth: trying to keep people happy and prove our worth is exhausting---and futile! What we need is God's extravagant, merciful, undeserved grace. Sharing her personal story, biblical insights, and practical applications, teamed with her stunning original artwork, she leads us to the freedom of knowing that, in Christ, we are enough.
Grace Secures What Striving Cannot
In this hustling, image-forward age of opportunity, we feel more anxious than ever. Despite all the affirming memes and self-reflections that dominate social media feeds, approval and worth often seem assigned to what we do rather than who we are. And we end up constantly feeling like we're behind, lacking, and failing--at home, at work, with friends, with God.
Ruth Chou Simons knows something about feeling measured by achievement, performance, and the approval of others. As a Taiwanese immigrant growing up between two cultures, Ruth was always on a mission to prove her worth, until she came to truly understand the one thing that changes everything: the extravagant, undeserved gift of grace from a merciful God. In When Strivings Cease, Ruth guides you on a journey to find freedom from the never-ending quest for self-improvement. She shows you how to
With personal stories, biblical insights, practical applications, and touches of original artwork by Ruth, this transformational book helps you see the beautiful truth that God's favor is the only currency you need--because in Christ you are enough.
WHY BOTHER WITH CHURCH?
The church is widely viewed in the world at large as being outdated, boring, irrelevant and filled with backbiting hypocrites.
How different that picture is to how the Bible talks about the new family that Jesus has gathered. It is a precious bride, a sparkling jewel, a lifeboat for forgiven sinners that is precious and holy; nurturing and warm; filled with truth, friendship and all embracing, forgiving love.
Sam Allberry understands the collision between these two views, and how, even as Christian believers, we can lose sight of how truly wonderful church is and what a privilege it is to be part of.
In this brief, accessible but thorough guide to church, Sam outlines what church is and why we need it. And how, when we have got it wrong, we can move closer to what a true church should be.
Part of the Questions Christians Ask series: a range of short, simple books designed to help Christians grapple with the contemporary issues.
Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With?
Christians are increasingly seen as outdated, restrictive and judgmental when it comes to sex before marriage, cohabitation and homosexuality. In fact for many people, this issue is one of the biggest barriers for them considering Christianity.
Sam Allberry, author of many books including Is God Anti-gay sets out God's good design for the expression of human sexuality. Readers will be shown that God himself is love and his blueprint for sex is designed to help us to flourish and live out our full humanity.
It is a great reminder of the Bible's teaching on love, sex and marriage and ideal for giving away to people who may see it as a stumbling block for belief.
Why Should We Love the Local Church?
How Christians Can Rediscover the Beauty and Glory of the Church
Dear. Precious. Lovely. The Bible describes the church in extraordinary ways, even using beautiful poetry and metaphors. How does this compare to how Christians today describe the church? Unfortunately, many believers focus more on its mission, structure, or specific programs than on its inherent beauty. It's time to spark a renewed affection for the church.
In this concise version of The Loveliest Place, Dustin Benge urges Christians to see the holy assembly of God's redeemed people in all its eternal beauty. He explains what makes the church lovely, including the Trinitarian relationship, worship, service, and gospel proclamation. For those who have never learned to view the church as God sees it, or have become disillusioned by its flaws, this book is a reminder that the corporate gathering of believers is a reflection of God's indescribable beauty.