Afire with God

Afire with God PDF Author: Betsy Schwartzentraub
Publisher: Discipleship Resources
ISBN: 9780881775204
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Stewardship is a dirty word in most churches. Pastors preach about it knowing they must while members sit uncomfortably through the "it's-that-time-again" sermons and other appeals. Afire with God urges ministries and congregations to become stewards-in-action of all God has entrusted to us. Members go beyond thinking in terms of dollars contributed to see stewardship as becoming living examples of the gospel. "Real stewardship is radical, which means going to the roots of our faith," writes Schwarzentraub. "If we take stewardship seriously--and joyfully--it won't be just another addition to the same old programs we've been doing in our congregations. It will change our thinking, acting, and imagining. And it will change our vision of ministry, working from the inside out." The book's four chapters are simple and elegant. Chapter 1 addresses our mixed feelings about stewardship and uses the biblical image of the Hebrews as aliens in Egypt. Chapter 2 uses the experience of Moses at the burning bush as a way to explore foundations of stewardship in the Bible. Chapter 3 connects stewardship with the mysteries of faith and with John Wesley's understanding of the means of grace, exploring Wesley's life as a steward. Chapter 4 looks at practical approaches for becoming stewards-in-action. Included are examples for faithful stewardship of the earth, ways to reinvigorate stewardship in worship, long-range planning ideas and plans for individual ministry growth. Schwarzentraub will lead you to a spirited stewardship that embraces every dimension of life and alters your ideas about the topic: converting the noun steward into a verb! Transform who you are becoming and what you can do in the world. Lead in Stewardship Leader's Guide is also available.

Afire with God

Afire with God PDF Author: Betsy Schwartzentraub
Publisher: Discipleship Resources
ISBN: 9780881775204
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Stewardship is a dirty word in most churches. Pastors preach about it knowing they must while members sit uncomfortably through the "it's-that-time-again" sermons and other appeals. Afire with God urges ministries and congregations to become stewards-in-action of all God has entrusted to us. Members go beyond thinking in terms of dollars contributed to see stewardship as becoming living examples of the gospel. "Real stewardship is radical, which means going to the roots of our faith," writes Schwarzentraub. "If we take stewardship seriously--and joyfully--it won't be just another addition to the same old programs we've been doing in our congregations. It will change our thinking, acting, and imagining. And it will change our vision of ministry, working from the inside out." The book's four chapters are simple and elegant. Chapter 1 addresses our mixed feelings about stewardship and uses the biblical image of the Hebrews as aliens in Egypt. Chapter 2 uses the experience of Moses at the burning bush as a way to explore foundations of stewardship in the Bible. Chapter 3 connects stewardship with the mysteries of faith and with John Wesley's understanding of the means of grace, exploring Wesley's life as a steward. Chapter 4 looks at practical approaches for becoming stewards-in-action. Included are examples for faithful stewardship of the earth, ways to reinvigorate stewardship in worship, long-range planning ideas and plans for individual ministry growth. Schwarzentraub will lead you to a spirited stewardship that embraces every dimension of life and alters your ideas about the topic: converting the noun steward into a verb! Transform who you are becoming and what you can do in the world. Lead in Stewardship Leader's Guide is also available.

Acts

Acts PDF Author: R. Kent Hughes
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781433512889
Category : Bible
Languages : en
Pages : 380

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Book Description
Dynamic churches & ndash;congregations that are experiencing phenomenal growth, Christian ministries that God is using to take down walls, churches where souls are being saved and lives transformed & ndash;inspire us and make for great reading. The book of Acts, the divinely inspired history of the early church, is all this and more. In the author's words: One reason I love to study the book of Acts is its uniqueness. It is the sourcebook for the spread of early Christianity. Without it we would know little about the apostolic church except what could be gleaned from Paul's epistles. It is the chronicle of the spreading flame of the Holy Spirit. In this welcome addition to the Preaching the Word series, Pastor Kent Hughes explores the key narratives of the book of acts, including the birth of the church, bold gospel preaching resulting in the prospering of the church, and the dramatic missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul.

Sacred Pathways

Sacred Pathways PDF Author: Gary Thomas
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0310361184
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
Sacred Pathways reveals nine distinct spiritual temperaments--and their strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies--to help you improve your spiritual life and deepen your personal walk with God. It's time to strip away the frustration of a one-size-fits-all spirituality and discover a path of worship that frees you to be you. Experienced spiritual directors, pastors, and church leaders recognize that all of us engage with God differently, and it's about time we do too. In this updated and expanded edition of Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas details nine spiritual temperaments and--like the Enneagram and other tools do with personality--encourages you to investigate the ways you most naturally express yourself in your relationship with God. He encourages you to dig into the traits, strengths, and pitfalls in your devotional approach so you can eliminate the barriers that keep you locked into rigid methods of worship and praise. Plus, as you begin to identify and understand your own temperament, you'll soon learn about the temperaments that aren't necessarily "you" but that may help you understand the spiritual tendencies of friends, family, and others around you. Whatever temperament or blend of temperaments best describes you, rest assured it's not by accident. It's by the design of a Creator who knew what he was doing when he made you according to his own unique intentions. If your spiritual walk is not what you'd like it to be, you can change that, starting here. Sacred Pathways will show you the route you were made to travel, marked by growth and filled with the riches of a close walk with God. A Sacred Pathways video Bible study is also available for group or individual use, sold separately.

A Mouth Full of Fire

A Mouth Full of Fire PDF Author: Andrew G. Shead
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 0830826300
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 323

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Book Description
In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, Andrew Shead examines Jeremiah's commissioning, embodiment of the word of God, covenant preaching and "oracles of hope." He shows how a differentiation between the divine "word" and the prophet's "words" enables the word of God to function as an organizing center for the book's theology.

The Doors of the Sea

The Doors of the Sea PDF Author: David Bentley Hart
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
ISBN: 0802866867
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description
As news reports of the horrific December 2004 tsunami in Asia reached the rest of the world, commentators were quick to seize upon the disaster as proof of either God s power or God s nonexistence, asking over and over, How could a good and loving God if such exists allow such suffering? In The Doors of the Sea David Bentley Hart speaks at once to those skeptical of Christian faith and to those who use their Christian faith to rationalize senseless human suffering. He calls both to recognize in the worst catastrophes not the providential will of God but rather the ongoing struggle between the rebellious powers that enslave the world and the God who loves it wholly.

Consoling the Heart of Jesus

Consoling the Heart of Jesus PDF Author: Michael E. Gaitley
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781596142220
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Endorsed by EWTN hosts Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ, and Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, this do-it-yourself retreat combines the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius with the teachings of Sts. Therese of Lisieux, Faustina Kowlaska, and Louis de Montfort. The author, Br. Michael Gaitley, MIC, has a remarkable gift for inspiring little souls to trust in Jesus, The Divine Mercy. As Danielle Bean, editorial director of Faith & Family magazine, puts it, "The voice of Christ in these pages is one that even this hopelessly distracted wife and mother of eight could hear and respond to." Includes practical helps an in appendices.

Earth Afire with God

Earth Afire with God PDF Author: Anamchara Books Staff
Publisher: Anamchara Books
ISBN: 1933630965
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 121

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Book Description


Worship for the Whole People of God, Second Edition

Worship for the Whole People of God, Second Edition PDF Author: Ruth C. Duck
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN: 164698188X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 399

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Book Description
This revised edition of the popular textbook on worship by renowned hymn writer and professor Ruth C. Duck provides theological foundations for worship and explores the ways Christians have adapted worship to various cultures to help them live faithfully and to communicate the gospel to others. The author celebrates the many languages and cultural settings in which the gospel has been, and is, preached, sung, and prayed. The goal of this volume is to support good pastoral and congregational reflection on what worship is and does. Consequently, Duck discusses many different forms of worship from several cultures (African American, Asian, Euro-American) and offers advice on how to read a congregation and define its culture in order to plan culturally appropriate worship. She includes many practical suggestions for preparing and leading worship, including diverse ministries of music, movement, and visual arts that are becoming more popular today. From worship's theological underpinnings, the book turns to worship leadership, forms of prayer, preaching, the sacraments, ordination, and various other liturgies. Because of its emphasis on vital and Spirit-led worship, this comprehensive book on Christian worship will be used in years to come, not only as a core textbook for seminarians and ministry students from a variety of cultures and traditions but also as a resource for local church pastors and laity who are dedicated to the enlivening of Christian worship. In this new edition, Duck updates and expands the recommended resources, updates the section on worship trends, enhances the section on multicultural worship, and revises marriage information based on cultural and denominational changes. Highlights include stories of four churches that are developing creative ways to grow and meet the possibilities and challenges of these times, especially in seeking justice, serving people in their neighborhood, and building bridges among cultures and religious groups. In addition, a new appendix by David Gambrell addresses the theological and practical questions surrounding online worship in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.

Acts

Acts PDF Author: R. Kent Hughes
Publisher: Preaching the Word
ISBN: 9781433538261
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This commentary on the book of Acts explores the history of the early church, examining the spread of Christianity in the years following Christ's death and resurrection.

Jesus-Centered Life

Jesus-Centered Life PDF Author: Rick Lawrence
Publisher: Group Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 1470728281
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
You know Jesus, You think he’s a nice guy,and you never forget his birthday.But the truth is...you want more than that. You’re bored. Exhausted. Tired of the grind. You’re done with hearing about Jesus in sermons. Reading about Jesus in devotions. You want to encounter Jesus—and know him for who he really is. You want to experience Jesus’ love, not just admire him. To become a follower, not just a fan. The Jesus-Centered Life... • invites you into wonder as you explore the magnetic force of the real Jesus • frees you from a “trying harder to get better” lifestyle, so you can follow Jesus instead • walks you through one-of-a-kind practices that lead you into actual encounters with Jesus Packed with easy, natural, everyday life practices that transform how you see Jesus, The Jesus-Centered Life is the perfect antidote for a ho-hum connection to Jesus—a fresh invitation for you to make Jesus the center of your life. This book helps you chart a clear, fulfilling path straight to the Jesus who loves you.