Gifts & Gear

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.

ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable. In addition, you may need a CourseID, provided by your instructor, to register for and use Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products. Packages Access codes for Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products may not be included when purchasing or renting from companies other than Pearson; check with the seller before completing your purchase. Used or rental books If you rent or purchase a used book with an access code, the access code may have been redeemed previously and you may have to purchase a new access code. Access codes Access codes that are purchased from sellers other than Pearson carry a higher risk of being either the wrong ISBN or a previously redeemed code. Check with the seller prior to purchase. -- NOTE: This title is only available as an eText (ordering ISBN: ISBN-10: 0205035582 - ISBN-13: 9780205035588). This best-selling text continues to offer a comprehensive introduction to the field of social work with a unique focus on the diverse groups to whom social workers provide services; including children, older adults, disabled persons, and members of minority racial and ethnic groups. It covers the emergence of the profession of social work, career oportunities for social workers, and the values and competencies required of social workers. Timely issues that this edition addresses include the following: the events of 9/11 and their dramatic influence on human services in the United States; the United States involvement in Middle East warfare; the physical and emotional damage to individuals involved in Middle East warfare; and the 2000 Census---how substantial changes in the U.S. population suggest a need for realignment of social services.

What event could change your life? Winning the lottery? Getting a promotion? Getting a degree? Scoring a home run, or a winning goal?

It might be hard to believe, but a breakfast conversation could be the most consequential event in your life!

Looking at the breakfast conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21, we see how Peter's life changed forever as he was challenged to step up and play his part in God's big plan.

And Jesus has an exciting challenge for all of us today. As Jesus captures our hearts with his love and forgiveness, we'll be motivated to be part of something truly extraordinary.

Perfect for encouraging men to live all out for Christ. It is also ideal to give away at men's breakfasts.

This new edition of Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem may be the most important resource you can own for helping you understand Scripture and grow as a Christian.

The most widely used resource of the last 25 years in its area, Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem has been thoroughly revised and expanded (all 57 chapters) for the first time while retaining the features that have made it the standard in its field: clear explanations, an emphasis on each doctrine's scriptural basis, and practical applications to daily life.

Praise for the second edition:

After a quarter century of remarkable usefulness globally . . . it remains remarkable. I thank God for this precious gift to Christ's people worldwide. - John Piper

Stands out for its clarity and accessibility. - Thomas R. Schreiner

One of those rare works that can challenge the scholar and instruct the beginner . . . It is simply indispensable. - Jack Deere

With nearly 250 pages of new content and revisions that took several years, this new edition now includes the following distinctive features, making it even better:

Updated, fuller analysis of several recent controversies within evangelicalism, including the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son in the Trinity, the question of God's atemporal eternity, the role of women in the church, seeker-sensitive churches, miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, and contemporary worship music.

New, thoughtful critiques of open theism, the new perspective on Paul, Molinism (or middle knowledge), Free Grace theology, and the preterist view of Christ's second coming

Completely revised, stronger chapter on the clarity of Scripture

Completely revised, stronger chapter on creation and evolution, including a longer critique of theistic evolution and an extensive discussion on the age of the earth

New discussion of how biblical inerrancy applies to some specific problem verses in the Gospels

Additional material respectfully explaining evangelical Protestant differences with Roman Catholicism (with extensive interaction with the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church), Protestant liberalism, and Mormonism

Completely updated bibliographies

All Scripture quotations updated from RSV to ESV

An explanation of why monogenes in John 3:16 and elsewhere should be translated as only begotten rather than merely only (this is a change from the first edition)

A contemporary worship song added at the end of each chapter (while retaining the traditional hymns as well)

New discussion on the impassibility of God

An extensive discussion on the eternal submission of the Son to the Father, taking into account controversies in recent years

Updated section on contemporary worship music

A discussion of recent criticisms of the penal substitutionary view of the atonement

Numerous other updates and corrections that have be prompted by letters and emails from people around the world and by interaction with the students Wayne has taught over the last 26 years both at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and at Phoenix Seminary

Part of the brilliance of Systematic Theology over the years has been its simplicity and ease of use. Each chapter follows the same structure. First, there is discussion of the doctrine being considered, such as justification or the Trinity or the deity of Christ. An explanation of that doctrine's biblical support and possible objections follow. Personal application and key terms to know for personal growth are then provided. Chapters also include a Scripture memory passage, references to other literature on the topic, and suggested hymns and worship songs.

If you are someone who thinks theology is hard to understand or boring, then this new edition of Systematic Theology will likely change your mind.

Textuality and the Bible represents a concerted effort to clarify the object of study in biblical scholarship and in the church by bringing together the disciplines of hermeneutics, compositional analysis, canon studies, and textual criticism. It ultimately seeks to issue a call for study of the Bible for its own sake. ""Textuality and the Bible represents a serious engagement with the text of the Bible in its various textual witnesses. Within its pages a reader will find reflections at various levels: from grammatical analysis to the nature of the Bible as canon. Shepherd's close attention to the text itself, at various levels, is to be commended."" --Joshua E. Williams, Associate Professor of Old Testament, School of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Michael B. Shepherd is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Cedarville University. He is the author of multiple scholarly journal articles and monographs, most recently The Text in the Middle (2014).

The Faith that God Built series by Gary Bower uses the same whimsical style of storytelling as The 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.

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 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.

Part of the Union Series: Inviting readers to experience deeper enjoyment of God; other volumes include Rejoice and Tremble and Deeper

Concise Version Also Available: The Loveliest Place is the full version of Why Should We Love the Local Church?

Looks Beyond Methodology: Focuses on the beauty, not just the biblical function, of the church

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."

Covers Main Theological Themes: A great companion to commentaries on Acts

Studies the Birth of the Church Age: Schreiner examines the lives of early Christians after Jesus's ascension

Informative and Accessible: Tables and graphics help readers visualize key theological themes

Part of the New Testament Theology series

A Beautiful Hardcover Edition of John Piper's Enduring Work

People are starving for the greatness of God. Where will their souls be fed? Can they say, "I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory"? As we look out over the wasteland of a secular society, do we not ask, "Who but Christian preachers will say to the people, 'Behold your God!'?" Who will paint for them the landscape of God's grandeur? Who will remind them with tales of wonder that God has triumphed over every foe? Who will cry out above every crisis, "Your God reigns!"?

John Piper pleads for preachers to make the supremacy of God the bracing air of their sermons. He longs to see a new generation of preachers, and a revived band of seasoned brothers, set aflame with the grandeur of God--his glory as the goal of preaching, his cross as the ground of preaching, his Spirit as the power of preaching.

It is fitting that The Supremacy of God in Preaching now appears in hardcover for the first time. It has proven to be an enduring work through the decades.

The world of the Bible is a textual world. Its composition and intertextuality are what make it a representation of reality. To understand biblical world making, it is important to understand how biblical books are made and read. The Textual World of the Bible explores the patterns of figuration in biblical composition and the way in which these patterns are read within the Bible (inner-biblical exegesis). This book is an excellent choice for courses in biblical theology and hermeneutics.

The cross of Christ is to be a reality to me not only once for all at my conversion, but all through my life as a Christian.
--Francis Schaeffer

Many people ask the question What does it mean to be spiritual? To renowned Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer, true spirituality was not a mechanical process like some sort of to-do list, but an active experience informed by the truth of what God has said in his word. Through the pages of this book, a new generation of readers will uncover what true spirituality is and how to experience it in their own lives--moment-by-moment communion with God himself, grounded in Christ's finished work on the cross.