Pastoral Helps
Showing 101–150 of 394 results
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When Church Stops Working
$21.99Add to cartWhat if the solution for the decline of today’s church isn’t more money, people, programs, innovation, and busyness?
What if the answer is to stop and wait on God?
In When Church Stops Working, ministry leaders Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand show how actively watching and listening for God can bring life out of death for churches in crisis today. Using clear steps and practices, they invite church leaders to stop the endless cycle of doing more and rather to simply “be” in God’s presence. They tell the story of two congregations who did this–and found new life in the process.
When Church Stops Working distills the core themes of Root’s critically acclaimed Ministry in a Secular Age series in a more accessible form. Leaders and churchgoers who are burned out and hopeless will experience affirmation, encouragement, and empowerment as Root and Bertrand turn to the book of Acts as well as examples from contemporary congregational life to show what “active” waiting looks like and the saving grace it can hold.
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Devoted Bible Study Book (Student/Study Guide)
$16.99Add to cartSisters, daughters, friends. Queens, missionaries, mothers. From Eve in Genesis 3 to Eunice in 2 Timothy 1, the Bible mentions countless women who bear witness to the faithfulness and love of God. While each woman is unique, they all have one thing in common-a life interwoven with God’s story of redemption.
Spend 6 sessions studying more than 30 women in Scripture whose lives have inspired generations of women in their faith and devotion to God. Their stories are a reminder that you, too, are made in the image of God, and you have an important part to play in God’s story.
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Evangelism : For The Care Of Souls
$19.99Add to cartEvangelism is the heart of pastoral care.
In Evangelism: For the Care of Souls, Sean McGever reminds ministers that announcing–and reannouncing–the good news of Jesus is central to pastoral care. The gospel rightly belongs at the start of a Christian’s life, but its role does not end there. It is the balm and cure of our hearts for all of life. We must all be evangelized and re-evangelized.
Avoiding a simplistic, manipulative, or guilt-inducing message, Evangelism: For the Care of Souls presents a vision and strategy for ministers to evangelize in a way that is refreshing, biblical, and sustainable.
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Word And Sacrament
$24.99Add to cartAnglican church planting veteran Dan Alger shows pastors how the rich traditions of liturgical worship are a gift to the work of starting new churches. Word and Sacrament provides a robust framework to plant gospel faithful, missionally effective, relationally strong churches.
While much of church planting today is approached as a new, innovative effort, church leaders can take comfort in the truth that they are simply stewards of what the faithful church has been doing for millennia. By rediscovering the foundations of our heritage, we are able to build healthier, more faithful, and more effective churches. At the same time, the act of planting new churches can breathe new life into these ancient traditions as they are applied to a variety of cultural contexts.
Written from an Anglican perspective to encourage both aspiring and experienced church planters, Word and Sacrament will assist leaders in all traditions to better understand the why, what, and how of the task before them.
*Outlines and contextualizes the Anglican way of discipleship for a global church
*Helps ministry leaders avoid common mistakes in church planting
*Helps those in all walks of ministry to discern their role in church planting -
When You Pray Bible Study Book With Video Access (Student/Study Guide)
$24.99Add to cartDo you have trouble thinking of words to say to God when you pray? Are you afraid some emotions are too intense to express to God? Do you reach the end of a day only to realize you haven’t prayed at all? You’re not alone. Prayer is the way we relate to God, but sometimes it’s a struggle. Throughout God’s Word, we encounter many voices who teach us how to pray.
In this 7-session study, join with six beloved Bible teachers who will help you study prayers in the Bible that can inspire your own. You’ll learn that God welcomes your praise and lament, your thanksgiving and intercession. You’ll see examples of how to pray when you’re alone and when you’re gathered with others. Above all, you’ll notice there’s no one right way to pray. As you draw near to God through prayer, you’ll find your faith strengthened and your heart united to Christ.
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Pastoring Small Towns
$14.99Add to cartSmall town life is quite different from life in a big city. There is not as much traffic. People recognize each other at the grocery store. Local sporting events carry a different cultural weight, and it may not be out of the ordinary to wait behind a tractor or get used to the smell of a nearby factory. These communities are unique, and pastoring here is an extraordinary task.
Ronnie Martin and Donnie Griggs are well-aware of this reality. In Pastoring Small Towns, their hope is to equip pastors and ministry leaders to take on the different nuances that come with pastoring smaller communities. They point out the cultural realities of these places and give pastors the tools to effectively engage their people with the Gospel.
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Next Gen Faith
$18.99Add to cartWhen the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (Luke 18:8)
Jesus’s question is one that should bother all Christians. Increasing numbers of people don’t go to church. Only 4 percent of those born between 1998 and 2013 have a biblical worldview. The rest don’t believe in the Bible, absolute moral truth, or a loving, all-powerful Creator. They don’t even believe in the concept of sin.
We have failed. We have not taken to heart the biblical admonishment to pass on our faith from one generation to the next.
Yet youth pastor Jeff Grenell believes that once American teens and young adults discover that God is even more amazing than Stranger Things, “they will be hooked.”
He notes, “Our world is familiar with the supernatural, but the church is foreign to it. If this changes in the church today, we may have one of the best apologetic tools to reach this generation because the supernatural is in the DNA of the church and its message. Most American teenagers and youth culture are drawn to the spectacular and the spiritual.”
Jeff has written Next Gen Faith: 12 Spiritual Practices for Youth in an effort to reverse the godless trend among the next generations. Written in the vein of the classic Christian book The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, Next Gen Faith is designed to provide key steps for spiritual formation for both Christian adults who work with youth as well as teens and young adults themselves.
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Is The End Near Study Guide Plus Streaming Guide (Student/Study Guide)
$14.99Add to cartWhat will be the sign of the end of the age?
After using this study guide, your understanding of the end times according to Matthew chapters 24 and 25 will be expanded so you can see Jesus’s words from a new light.
Jesus gave His longest answer to this question on the Mount of Olives. Join Dr. Michael Youssef as he takes a deep dive into the words of Matthew 24 and 25 in the sessions of this companion to Is the End Near? Intended as a four-week Bible experience, the Is the End Near? video series and study guide are designed for group settings, including small groups or Sunday school classes, as well as for individual study.Each weekly session begins with a reflective question, followed by the video message that viewers can either stream or watch on DVD. The sessions are fully adaptable to the format and flow of activities based on the size and structure of the group or to accommodate personal study. Each day’s session guides readers through:
*A scripture reading, followed by reflection questions, to help readers mine the material surveyed during the weekly session
*A review of the key verse to memorize
*A time of prayer
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Luke Study Guide Plus Streaming Video (Student/Study Guide)
$24.99Add to cartLisa says, What I’m drawn to most in Luke’s account of the gospel is its humanity, the consistent theme that the Living Hope of Jesus Christ is for everyone-Jews and Greeks, men and women, rich and poor. There’s no one who exists beyond the compassionate reach of our Messiah.
Luke’s gospel account is a literary masterpiece, but it doesn’t celebrate the elite. Instead, it’s like the biblical version of Shakespeare whose main characters are paperback kind of people like lepers, prostitutes, and tax collectors who were absolutely stunned by the compassion Jesus extended toward them despite their cultural status as outcasts. This book proves that the pretense of perfection is overrated and certainly isn’t a prerequisite for a relationship with God. All twenty-four chapters present real people in real need of a real Savior. And while not everyone will be saved, Luke reminds us that anyone can be saved!
In this eight-session video Bible study, Bible teacher Lisa Harper exposes the utter humanity and compassion of Jesus shared by Luke, defined consistently and overtly in the original Greek, splagnitzomai, otherwise known as gut-level compassion. Dive deep into the well of perhaps the most common-man exposition of what a gift Jesus is in this new Beautiful Word Series study. This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:
*The study guide itself-with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader’s guide.
*Personal study of Scripture and context.
*Scripture memory cards and coloring pages.
*An individual access code to stream all eight video sessions online. (You don’t need to buy a DVD!)
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Navigating Gospel Truth Bible Study Book With Video Access (Student/Study Guide)
$28.00Add to cartThe Gospels–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John–are four accounts of one extraordinary life. Each book tells the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These book aren’t fairytales, fiction, or legend; they are gospel truth. Our eternal future hinges on whether or not they are trustworthy testimonies of the events of Jesus’s life and accurate records of HIs teaching.
While exploring the terrain of the gospels, you’ll learn to identify and understand the different kinds of writing in these ancient texts, including narrative, poetry, parable, and more. Through this journey, your confidence in the truth of Scripture will be renewed and you’ll gain a more captivating view of the Savior. And along the way you’ll acquire skills that will help you become a better student of all of Scripture.
Features:
*Leader helps for group discussion
*7 weeks of personal study to be completed between the 8 group sessions
*Teaching videos, approximately 20-25 minutes, via redemption code printed in the Bible study bookBenefits:
*Affirm that the accounts of Jesus’s life in the Gospels are reliable and true.?
*Gain a clearer and more captivating view of Jesus’s ministry and purpose.
*Cultivate an ability to read, understand, and interpret the different types of genres in the Bible.
*Develop a desire to be a diligent and confident student of Scripture.
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Male And Female He Created Them
$14.99Add to cartThe aim of this study is to provide an accessible curriculum for the average church goer, to those looking for biblical and theological answers to the questions of gender identity in the 21st century.
Male and Female He Created Him is a new curriculum on manhood, womanhood, gender and sexuality. Curated by specialists in the area of study, Burke, Smothers and Closson present a positive vision for biblical sexuality and engage contemporary discussions around gender orientation, gender dysphoria and identity with the timeless truth of Scripture. By the completion of the study, participants will have a better grasp on the Biblical teachings around gender, sexuality and the implications around such subjects in the 21st century; thence allowing an increased scope in their ministries in church, home and work.
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Awe Of God Bible Study Guide Plus Streaming Video (Student/Study Guide)
$21.99Add to cartWhat if you were told of a hidden virtue that is the key to all of life? It unlocks the purpose of your existence and attracts the presence, protection, and providence of your Creator. It is the root of all noble character, the foundation of all happiness, and provides the needed adjustments to all inharmonious circumstances you may face. To firmly embrace this virtue will lengthen your life, procure you good health, ensure success and safety, eliminate lack, and guarantee a noble legacy.
If presented with these statements, most would sneer and say no such virtue exists. Yet every promise above was written by one of the wisest men to ever live. Even more astounding, he wrote these words under the inspiration of our Creator. However, prior to his departure from this life, he fell from the bliss he scribed. He became wise in his own eyes and deemed it no longer necessary to heed the wisdom of this virtue. He lost his way and eventually fell to the depths of a bitter cynic. Life became meaningless to him.
The good news is that this man’s story doesn’t end in the depths of despondency. He eventually returned to life’s most important virtue. We don’t know how many months or even years he spent writing his dismal book, but his final chapter gives a glimpse into his recovery. He begins by writing seven times in one form or another, “Remember your Creator,” with his final words being: “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV).
King Solomon, the author of these words, didn’t fully realize the value of godly fear, even though he taught it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! Prior to his fall, godly fear wasn’t his treasure, or his delight; it wasn’t an immovable foundation for his motives and actions. It was only after stumbling, experiencing folly, and finally recovering that he more fully grasped the magnitude of its power.
In The Awe of God, bestselling author and pastor John Bevere reveals how embracing godly fear empowers us to remain under submission to God’s truth and, in so doing, keeps us on the path of life. He explores more than forty distinct promises in Scripture that are given to those who embrace this virtue–rewards such as holiness, wisdom, eternal legacy, confidence, fearlessness, happiness, and security. And he shows how learning to approach God in this entirely new way–through holy fear–allows us to discover a deeper relationship wi
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Pastor Jesus Is Enough
$16.99Add to cartIn Pastor, Jesus Is Enough, Jeremy Writebol invites pastors to hear the words of the risen Jesus in the seven letters within Revelation 2-3:
*Pastors love Jesus most
*Pastors suffer
*Pastors teach and tell the truth
*Pastors become like Jesus
*Pastors abide in Jesus
*Pastors find their value in Jesus
*Pastors repentThe exhortations in Revelation 2-3 are directed to churches. But they also exhort pastors. In these letters, Jesus draws near to pastors–whether hurting or straying–and reminds them of his sufficiency. In these warnings and promises, Jesus has hard words for pastors. But they are words of life. Most of all, Jesus urges pastors to keep their focus on him.
Being enough is exhausting. But pastor, the good news is that you cannot be enough. Because only Jesus is enough.
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Really Radical Book For Kids
$29.99Add to cartThe Really Radical Book for Kids continues the exciting dive into the roots of the Christian faith started in The Radical Book for Kids. More Bible exploration, more history, more secret codes, and more faith-filled direction for how to live as a believer in the here and now.
Short chapters on a variety of topics will grab the interest of readers of all ages, from 8 to 80! Kids will learn about ancient kings, hilarious humor, legendary battles, and fierce snakes and dragons.They’ll discover unusual food to make, secret codes to break, fun crafts to try, and strange planes to fly. They’ll also uncover exciting ways to read the Bible, factual reasons to believe, stunning truths about God, and incredible examples of “radical” men and women who have gone before them and trusted Jesus in challenging times.
The Really Radical Book for Kids?will spark curiosity and a love for God’s Word. ?
*Sequel to the Christian Book Award winning?Radical Book for Kids.
*Packed with fun, captivating, and age-appropriate content to help kids ages 8-14 learn more about how to read God’s powerful Word.
*Rich biblical content (church history, apologetics, etc.) that will keep young readers’ attention.
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Mental Health And Your Church
$16.99Add to cartMany people are struggling with mental-health conditions, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and life in our image-conscious culture. Statistics tell us that, worldwide, one in six of us will have experienced a mental-health struggle in the past week, and serious depression is the second-leading cause of disability (Mental Health Foundation).
That means there are brothers and sisters in our church families battling with thoughts, feelings, impulses and even voices that distract, drag down and nudge them towards despair. But when it comes to helping, it can be tricky to know where to begin, especially if we have very little knowledge of mental illnesses and are afraid of making things worse by saying and doing the wrong things.
This wise, compassionate and practical book is written by Steve Midgley, psychiatrist and Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK, and Helen Thorne, Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK. It will help readers understand and respond with biblical wisdom to people who are struggling with their mental health.
While acknowledging the importance of liaising responsibly with medics and counsellors, this book focuses on equipping readers to play their part in making churches places where those who struggle with mental-health conditions are welcomed, understood, nurtured and supported: a foretaste of the new creation.
This is a useful book for anyone who cares for others pastorally: pastors, elders, small-group leaders and congregation members.
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Gideon Bible Study Book With Video Access
$24.99Add to cartWhen we hear the name Gideon, most of us think about his 300 soldiers or the fleece he laid out under the evening sky. But Gideon’s story is so much bigger than that-bigger than any one man and his mark on Israel’s history. Like everything else in the Bible, this is a story about God and His people. His love for them, as well as His strength operating in spite of their weakness-even through their weakness. And because God’s people includes you and me, Gideon’s story is also about us-our lives, our doubts, our struggles, and our possibilities as believers. From a state of fear, weakness, and insecurity, Gideon emerged as Israel’s hero, filled with God’s presence and His passion for deliverance. This 7-session study by Priscilla Shirer will encourage you to recognize your weakness as the key that the Lord gives you to unlock the full experience of His strength in your life. In what ways do you feel insufficient? Those places create the greatest opportunity to experience the sufficiency of God. Instead of ignoring, neglecting, or trying to escape your weaknesses, see them as the gifts that they are, given specifically and strategically by God to unlock the door of God’s strength.
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Acrostic Of Scripture
$16.99Add to cartThe Acrostic of Scripture gives parents and teachers a unique way to teach theology to children and makes catechism fun! An alphabet of words introducing biblical theology, written to a rhyming beat, paints a detailed and varied portrait of the unfolding story of the Bible, as it is fulfilled by Jesus.
Authors Jonathan Gibson and Timothy Brindle have created The Acrostic of Scripture, to help children ages five to eleven learn theology so their “knowledge of God’s big picture is better.” The fourth release in the Acrostic Theology for Kids series, this book is fun to read, simple to memorize, and features illustrations from C. S. Fritz that shine with creativity.
The Acrostic of Scripture includes a QR code in the back that can be scanned to listen to the audio version of the book which Timothy Brindle reads in rap style.
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Christian Counselors Medical Desk Reference 2nd Edition
$39.99Add to cartHow do certain medical conditions impact counseling needs? Biblical counselors and pastors often have questions when a counselee is struggling with a mixture of physical, emotional, and spiritual difficulties. Dr. Charles Hodges and a team of contributing physicians set out to answer some of those questions and offer solid biblical principles for counseling those with medical issues. While inspired by the original edition, _The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference 2nd_Edition contains all new content, including up-to-date information on the medical conditions highlighted and medications currently used to treat them, helping counselors to look past the labels and give counselees biblical hope and help.
In the first section, doctors and healthcare professionals with biblical counseling experience offer guidance for the extra challenges inherent with certain medical diagnoses. The second section examines some of the specific challenges associated with a variety of physical and mental conditions such as autoimmune disorders, PTSD, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and more, helping counselors better understand the specific counseling needs that are often associated with each condition.
Readers will learn more about the basics of these disorders and conditions and how sufferers need specific reminders of gospel truth as they journey a long road. Counselors will also become better equipped to better encourage caregivers and loved ones also impacted by these diagnoses.
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Shepherding The Pastor
$16.99Add to cartShepherding the Pastor helps new and upcoming pastors understand the common challenges and pitfalls that arise in the early years of ministry and to face difficulties with faith, wisdom, and patience.
Many pastors feel isolated and helpless, especially those beginning pastoral ministry. Phil Newton and Rich Shadden know what this road is like, and they want to share what they have gained from pastoral mentoring Rich, a young pastor receiving support and guidance from Phil, an older, more experienced shepherd.
Using real life examples of their mentor/mentee relationship, they identify four key practices that will help pastors thrive despite the stresses of ministry: a deepening walk with Christ, faithful exposition of Scripture, continual learning from mentors, and growth in skillful patience with their flock.
*Pastors will learn from the real-life struggles of a young pastor and the grace-filled help of an older pastor.
*Common ministry struggles are identified and readers will learn how to live with faith and wisdom as they shepherd a church.
*New and more experienced pastors will be encouraged that mentoring relationships are an antidote to pastoral burnout and are vital to thriving in ministry.
*Published in partnership with 9Marks.
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Valleys : Finding Courage, Conviction, And Confidence In Life’s Low Points
$16.99Add to cartThese studies guide you through the storyline of Scripture-each following a person, place, or thing in the Bible. Maybe you are practiced in dissecting a passage and pulling things out of the text to apply to your life. But now you may feel as though your faith is fragmented. The Storyline Bible studies help you put the pieces back together. You’ll discover cohesive, thematic storylines with literary elements and appreciate the Bible as the masterpiece that it is.
Each study is five weeks long and can be paired with its thematic partner for a seamless ten-week study to fit in a church semester. Every study features:
*Gospel presentation at the beginning of each Bible study
*Full Scripture passages included in the study so that you can mark up the text and keep your notes in one place
*Insights from female scholars and scholars of color
*Free resources for preaching and leading small groups
Valleys in the Bible have far more meaning than just as geographical markers or pins on an ancient map. In his literary genius, God repurposes valley settings throughout Scripture to signal tests of faith–and deepening of confidence in the One who is with us in the valley. In Valleys, we’re going to explore:
*Numbers 13-14: the Valley of Eshkol, where spies scouted the Promised Land
*Judges 4-5: the Valley of Kishon, where Deborah and Jael defeated the enemy
*1 Samuel 17: the Valley of Elah, where David fought Goliath
*Psalm 23: the Valley of Death, where God comforts scared people
*Ezekiel 37: the Valley of Dry Bones, where Ezekiel prophesied of Israel’s restoration -
Mountains : Rediscovering Your Vision And Restoring Your Hope In Gods Prese
$16.99Add to cartThese studies guide you through the storyline of Scripture-each following a person, place, or thing in the Bible. Maybe you are practiced in dissecting a passage and pulling things out of the text to apply to your life. But now you may feel as though your faith is fragmented. The Storyline Bible studies help you put the pieces back together. You’ll discover cohesive, thematic storylines with literary elements and appreciate the Bible as the masterpiece that it is.
Each study is five weeks long and can be paired with its thematic partner for a seamless ten-week study to fit in a church semester. Every study features:
*Gospel presentation at the beginning of each Bible study
*Full Scripture passages included in the study so that you can mark up the text and keep your notes in one place
*Insights from female scholars and scholars of color
*Free resources for preaching and leading small groups
In the ancient, symbol-driven world of the Bible, location didn’t just matter–it had meaning. The Mountains Bible study will guide you through five mountaintop Bible stories because mountains are holy ground for connecting with God. We will explore:
*Genesis 1-2: Mount of Creation, where God created the world
*Exodus 19-20: Mount Sinai, where God gives the Israelites the Mosaic law
*Matthew 5: Mount of the Sermon, where Jesus’ delivers his most famous message
*Matthew 17: Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus revealed his glory
*Matthew 28: Mount of the Great Commission, where Jesus commissioned his disciples -
Abide Bible Study Book With Video Access
$24.99Add to cartHow can we hold onto assurance of our faith? How can we discern the truth from a lie? How can we know God loves us?
In this 10-session study of 1, 2, and 3 John, Jen Wilkin will help you discover how 2,000 years later, the apostle John’s words call to Christians in similar challenges to recall a great salvation and to abide in the truth. He reminds an early church facing division, deception, and doubt to hold fast to what they know and to live like they believe it. And he reminds us as well.
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Welcome : Loving Your Church By Making Space For Everyone
$16.99Add to cartWalking into church can be intimidating, whether for the first time or after a period of absence, whether you are a non-believer or a believer. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your church was a place where everyone received a warm welcome? A place where newcomers can quickly feel at home and where non-believers receive the welcome of God’s people alongside the welcome of Jesus?
This warm, practical book by Jen Oshman explores what the Bible says to help readers discover how to make space for others, however different they are to them, in their church and in their lives. She also gives practical advice, drawing on good practice from churches around the world in a range of situations. In a world of division, individualism and isolation, readers will see that their church can witness to Christ by being a place of welcome, community and connection.
Chapters include how Jesus welcomes us, the impact of welcoming in the early church, the effect of being siblings in Christ, how to welcome beyond Sunday, helpful systems and strategies, how our joy in Christ causes us to be outward-looking, and mirroring the glorious vision set out in Revelation.
Whether you’re a pastor looking to encourage your congregation to welcome others or a church member wanting to see unbelievers come to faith and help everyone feel part of the family, this book is for you.
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Gather : Loving Your Church As You Celebrate Christ Together
$16.99Add to cartWhy do we meet on Sundays?
Now that technology allows us to access services remotely, many see little need to meet face to face every week. Others think that because we have a personal relationship with Jesus as Christians, church is an optional add-on. For some, they know deep down that there is a reason why gathering on Sundays is important, but they are weary and don’t feel excited about it. So what is the purpose of corporate worship, and what is our role in it?
In this book, Tony Merida highlights how in-person Sunday gatherings are central to God’s plans and to our faith and joy. He reminds believers of their privileges as citizens of heaven, members of God’s family and stones in God’s temple.
Readers will see how each part of a church service (preaching, praying, singing, baptism, Lord’s Supper and building each other up in conversations) are ways to enjoy and share God’s grace, and are therefore essential for spiritual endurance. You’ll also be reminded that your presence in corporate worship matters because you have a part to play in encouraging your brothers and sisters and spurring them to love and good deeds:
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Read this book to renew your understanding and enjoyment of going to church and to be excited by the ways in which your presence can encourage others.
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Belong : Loving Your Church By Reflecting Christ To One Another
$16.99Add to cartAuthor Barnabas Piper states in the first chapter of his book:
“We are looking for something personal, something deeply meaningful, something with which we can identify. And this book is an invitation to find that in the church, because God wants us to …Part of God’s perfect strategy is offering hurting, tired, worn out, needy sinners like you and me a place to belong in … A place in which to encounter the profound, transformative, healing, restoring grace of Jesus Christ.”
This book explores how you can help to create a church where everybody feels at home: a place where fellow believers build genuine, honest, meaningful Christian relationships and enjoy deep fellowship as a community of believers.
You may be a new believer and wonder what it means to belong to a church; you may be reluctant to commit to your church because of past experiences; you may have recently relocated and want to find a church where you feel at home; or you may love your church and desire to commit to it more deeply and serve it more fully. Whatever the case, this book will help you to see that belonging to a church is a good gift from God, the outworking of our identity as brothers and sisters in Christ, and worth your time, love and commitment.
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How Much More Bible Study Book With Video Access (Student/Study Guide)
$21.99Add to cartMaybe your head knows that God is always good, but your heart’s not so sure. Or perhaps while reading Scripture, you’ve wondered if our Creator Redeemer went through a personality change-from strictly enforcing the rules in the Old Testament to loving the outcast in the New!
In this 7-session Bible study, you’ll discover divine love in the often overlooked and misunderstood passages in Scripture. And you’ll be delighted to find that Jehovah of the Old Testament is the same redemptive and compassionate God we see through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. He has always been and will always be for us!
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Trustworthy Bible Study Book With Video Access (Student/Study Guide)
$22.99Add to cartWhen hard times come and it seems God is deviating from the plan we assume our life should follow, we’re much more likely to want to tame God, not trust Him. It’s then that we begin to press into our ways and our own timing. No human can carry the weight of being their own god, but so many of us try.
In this 6-session study of 1 & 2 Kings, you can join Lysa TerKeurst in Israel as she honestly reveals the places of distrust in her own heart while exploring the deeply personal applicable Scriptures that will teach us how to truly trust God.
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I Guess I Havent Learned That Yet Study Guide With DVD (Student/Study Guide)
$27.00Add to cartI Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet is a journey of both unlearning what is no longer helpful, embracing curiosity, and accepting the unknowns of midlife, heartbreak, and chronic pain. Bestselling author Shauna Niequist speaks with characteristic candor and grace about the challenges and delights of a move from the Midwest to Manhattan, and also the challenges and delights of releasing our expectations for how we thought our lives would look.
In this five-session study, follow Shauna on her journey to understand grief, to reshape her faith, to practice courage when all she wanted to do was hide. This video study is about learning how to live in a new city, learning how to get back up, and learning how to trust God’s goodness in a deeper way.This pack contains one study guide and one DVD.
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Disciple : How To Create A Community That Develops Passionate And Healthy F
$16.99Add to cartCan you identify the key qualities of a committed, passionate, and healthy disciple of Jesus? Chuck Lawless, a respected professor, pastor, and church consultant, discovered that many pastors haven’t thought deeply about that question. He wrote this book to provide answers and transform churches for the better.Many church leaders know their communities well and who they are aiming to make disciples of Christ. But too often they haven’t thoroughly articulated their goals and painted a vision for what a disciple looks like within their specific communities. In this book, Dr. Chuck Lawless provides a model for church leaders to build committed disciples of Christ.In Disciple, Chuck LawlessDefines biblical discipleship and explores why church leaders sometimes neglect to teach what a faithful and committed disciple of Jesus isGuides pastors and church leaders in developing an effective discipleship model and process for their churchesExplains the potential obstacles to a thriving discipleship program and how to overcome themWhen a church is filled with passionate and healthy followers of Jesus, there’s a sense that something special is happening. Are you ready to unleash that power in your congregation?
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I Am A Christian Participants Guide (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartWhat does it really mean to be a Christian?
In a world where everything from sports to politics, social media to podcasts, and movies to television vies for our attention, we need to get back to what is essential. I Am a Christian Participant’s Guide helps people grasp who they are in Christ and what their participation means to their local church through an eight-session workbook designed for use with the companion DVD experience (sold separately).
Based on the book I Am a Christian, by respected author and church consultant Thom Rainer, this guide is a great resource for any Christian. Designed to be used with groups or individually, I Am a Christian Participant’s Guide will:
*help you clarify your purpose and mission
*encourage you to become a committed church member
*help Christian communities become healthy places so they can make a significant impact on the world(Don’t miss the companion I Am a Christian DVD Experience!)
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Ruth Bible Study Book Updated Edition With Video Access
$21.99Add to cartMost of us like a good rags-to-riches story, especially one that includes a bit of intrigue and a moving tale of love. We can easily get lost in a narrative where, at the beginning of the story, heartache reigned, but it was soon replaced by joy. Perhaps we’re drawn to these tales because they not only provide an escape, but hope.
Many of us struggle through seasons of bitterness, tears, and loss, wondering if there could ever be a happy ending to our stories. The story of Ruth affirms that yes, there is hope. However, it’s not found in a happy ending scribed by a novelist’s pen, but in the power and protection of a sovereign God who never takes His eyes off of us for even a moment.
In this 7-session study from Kelly Minter, we’ll examine Ruth’s journey of unbearable loss, redeeming love, and divine legacy. We’ll see how God proves Himself faithful as the One who rescues, revives, and restores. First released in 2009, this study is now updated with fresh content and new teaching videos from Kelly.
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Pastoral Visitation : For The Care Of Souls
$19.99Add to cartChrist comes to, and through, his people
Many consider pastoral visitation antiquated and impractical. People seem busier than ever, and technology appears to trivialize personal contact. As a result, personal visits are often reserved only for the gravest of situations.
Tyler C. Arnold argues that pastoral visitation is essential to the pastoral role. In Scripture, God visits his people to show his personal interest and concern. This is seen most clearly in the incarnation. Christ’s ministry is one of presence. But Jesus is not only an example of visitation ministry; he is the embodiment of it. And in visitation, pastors and laypeople continue Jesus’s ministry by bringing Christ to the individual in their very place of need.
Established in strong theological foundations and sensitive to contemporary concerns, Pastoral Visitation exhorts pastors to return to this classic method of individual soul-care.
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Spiritual Warfare : For The Care Of Souls
$19.99Add to cartJesus Christ is the light that no darkness can overcome.
Spiritual warfare isn’t always obvious. It’s normally not scary or spooky; it’s usually rather mundane. Yet it’s real and always miraculous.
In Spiritual Warfare, Harold Ristau shows how faithful spiritual warfare isn’t about secret methods and rituals. Rather, for the care of souls, pastors already have all they need in God’s word. The Spirit’s gifts equip Christians for whatever challenges await them in ministry–even fighting against the wiles of the devil. Spiritual Warfare helps pastors inform, prepare, and equip the saints for the battle. The good fight is fought in prayer and worship. As the church preaches the forgiveness of sins, the darkness is pierced with the light of Christ and those in bondage are freed.
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Uncommon Unity : Wisdom For The Church In An Age Of Division
$29.99Add to cartOur world is facing increasing hostilities. Political and cultural differences rage, even among people who otherwise show goodwill. And the church is no stranger to extreme polarization, theological backbiting, and political squabbling. Jesus’s prayer in John 17–that the church be one as he and the Father are one–seems increasingly unattainable.
But what if Scripture actually provides the key for thinking about unity in diversity?
In Uncommon Unity: Wisdom for the Church in an Age of Division, Richard Lints explores the nature of diversity and how Christians can think more clearly about unity in an increasingly polarized age. Drawing on theological, historical, and sociological resources, Lints exposes problems with the inclusion narrative of democracy and shows a better way forward for fostering unity in the midst of extreme diversity. If we are to think rightly about diversity, wisdom is required for the church in our late modern world. Through wisdom, Christians can display real unity in diversity and bear witness of the God who made them for himself as diverse members of his one body.
Readers of Uncommon Unity will be heartened that Scripture and Christian tradition provide an antidote to division.
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From Beginning To Forever Bible Study Book With Video Access
$30.75Add to cartMany Christians today are daunted by the Bible, seeing the size and scope of Scripture as intimidating and overwhelming. The result is often a fragmented understanding of parts of the Bible, which leads us to view it through the lens of our individual stories, primarily looking for different verses or passages to help us live our everyday lives. But, in our search for personal truth, we fail to see how the entirety of Scripture works together to show a bigger story-God’s work to redeem and restore the entire world.
In From Beginning to Forever, Elizabeth Woodson guides you through the story of the Bible, showing how all 66 books combine to form one unified narrative. Weaving together the rich theological truths found in Genesis through Revelation, this 8-session study shows the eternal significance of what God is doing in the world and how he invites us to be a part of it.
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Embracing Complementarianism : Turning Biblical Convictions Into Positive C
$17.99Add to cartIt can be tempting to shy away from addressing the issue of gender roles in church because it’s often controversial. But this can result in churches either being increasingly influenced by secular culture or simply sticking with the status quo when it comes to what men and women do in church.
Building on the belief that complementarianism is both biblical and positive, this book focuses on what these convictions look like in practice. Moving beyond the familiar discussions around and leaving room for variety in how readers implement these ideas, it will encourage a church culture where men and women truly partner together-embracing their privileges and responsibilities, and maximizing their gifts, in joyful service of God’s kingdom.
This book provides a great opportunity for church leadership teams to think intentionally about complementarianism and how it manifests itself in their church context.
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Dont Give The Enemy A Seat At Your Table Study Guide Plus Streaming Video: (Stud
$19.99Add to cartIn this six-session video Bible study (video streaming code included), bestselling author and pastor Louie Giglio unpacks Psalm 23 to offer insight into how to overcome the enemy’s lies and find peace and spiritual security in any circumstance or situation.
This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:
*The study guide itself–with video notes, personal study and group discussion sections, and a guide to best practices for leading a group.
*An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don’t need to buy a DVD!).
God has prepared a table for you. It’s set with a banquet of peace, clarity, and purpose. But Satan is constantly looking for an invitation, seeking to fill your mind with distractions, fear, worry, insecurity, anxiety, temptation, doubt…
It’s an ongoing battle. But you can learn how to protect your mind from unhealthy thoughts and experience rest and nourishment at God’s table.
The Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table study offers biblical insight on how to:
*Cancel the lies that will wreck your life and take the empowering steps to live fully alive in Christ
*Restore peace and rest in your life by taking authority over your thoughts
*Break free from the endless cycle of destructive thinking and recapture your emotions
*Embrace the true purpose behind your journey through challenging circumstances
Sessions and run times include:
1. The Table Before Us (21:30)
2. The Tactics of the Enemy (22:00)
3. The Battle for Our Mind (22:30)
4. The Path to Victory (22:30)
5. God’s Invitation Always Stands (22:30)
6. In the Presence of Our Enemies (23:00)You can find freedom from the battles in your mind if you allow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to lead the battle. Learn how to find encouragement, hope, and strength no matter what valleys you face.
Watch on any device!
Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Eligible only on retail purchases inside the United States. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
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Confronting Jesus : 9 Encounters With The Hero Of The Gospels
$14.99Add to cartAward-Winning Author Rebecca McLaughlin Explores Who Jesus Really Is in This Follow-Up to Confronting Christianity
Jesus is the most famous human being in all of history. But while many people have a basic sketch of Jesus in their minds, comparatively few have taken time to read the four biographies of his life in the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
In Confronting Jesus, Rebecca McLaughlin shares important biblical context to help all readers see why the Gospels should be taken seriously as historical documents. Exploring eyewitness testimony about Jesus, McLaughlin points to him as a first-century Jewish man who is the Son of God, King of the Jews, mighty healer, greatest teacher, lover of sinners, suffering servant, perfect sacrifice, and universal Lord. This follow-up to her first book, Confronting Christianity, helps readers understand the message of the Gospels and explore who Jesus really is. Individuals and groups can work through the book together with the Confronting Jesus Study Guide and the Confronting Jesus Video Study.
*Winsome and Informative: Mixes thorough research with an approachable writing style and cultural references to help readers grasp biblical truths
*Great for Apologetics and Evangelism: Presents the gospel clearly and invites readers to study with a friend
*Companion Resources for Personal and Small-Group Study: Confronting Jesus Study Guide and Confronting Jesus Video Study also available
*Follow-Up to Rebecca McLaughlin’s Confronting Christianity: This book offers readers a next step and a helping hand as they explore who Jesus is
*Accessible: Assuming neither knowledge of the Bible or belief on the part of her readers, McLaughlin provides a clear explanation of the 4 Gospels
*Published in partnership with the Gospel Coalition
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Goliath Must Fall Study Guide With DVD (Student/Study Guide)
$25.00Add to cartYou have a giant in your life. An adversary that’s diminishing your ability to live fully in Christ. Whatever it may be–rejection, fear, anger, comfort, or addiction–this giant stands between you and God’s promise…and it must fall.
Like with David and the Israelites, God has a better plan for you than to stand and be taunted day after day by a 9-foot Goliath. God’s plan for you is to live in victory.
In this six-session video Bible study (streaming code included), Pastor Louie Giglio reveals a twist in the story of David and Goliath that will help you and your study group see how God works victories in the lives of his people.
This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:
*The study guide itself–with discussion and reflection questions, activities, video notes, and a leader’s guide.
*An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don’t need to buy a DVD!).
Each session will equip you with practical, hands-on steps to take after engaging in passages from the Bible and Louie’s video talks, which show how living free from our giants means putting our hope in Jesus. When we do, we get to watch Goliath fall.
Sessions and video run times:
1. Dead but Still Deadly (22:30)
2. Fear Must Fall (23:00)
3. Rejection Must Fall (20:00)
4. Comfort Must Fall (20:00)
5. Anger Must Fall (22:30)
6. Addiction Must Fall (22:00) -
Fan The Flame
$12.50Add to cartChurches across the country are floundering and many pastors are deeply discouraged. They work hard and with great sincerity but their efforts don’t seem to be helping their churches to flourish. Their congregations are split over political issues. Their faith is low. Finances are tight. Many leaders want to love their flocks, but find themselves in endless arguments with people they are trying to serve.
The pressing need of our time, especially for leaders, is not to focus on transforming the culture, but on reviving the church. Yet sadly, when it comes to the work of ministry, few pastors turn to Scripture. Instead, they follow the latest church growth trends based on business models rather than the New Testament, and they become frustrated and disheartened when these fail.
The first Christians had no money and no leverage. The Roman government opposed them at every turn. The Jewish establishment persecuted them. They had no buildings and no New Testament. Yet the church exploded, proving that the Gospel is built for the hardest of times.
In Fan the Flame, New York Times best-selling author and pastor Jim Cymbala looks at the pressing need for spiritual leadership by focusing our attention on Acts 20–Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian church. He examines how Paul led the church–so that we can follow his lead. Along the way, Jim includes stories from his own experience at The Brooklyn Tabernacle, a church he has led for more than forty years. He offers ground-level, faith-driven, nitty-gritty, biblically-wise advice that will encourage, inspire, and equip leaders in the church, wherever God has planted them.
When leaders begin to understand and practice true spiritual leadership, they will find that their lives are transformed and they discover fresh energy and peace as God leads the way in building his kingdom. Filled with practical insights on developing a practice of prayer and leading others into the presence of God, Fan the Flame will help you to become the kind of leader God can use to reignite revival in today’s church.
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Lead Like It Matters
$28.99Add to cartDiscover the secret to igniting a life-giving, soul-transforming, people-inspiring movement in your organization, church, or ministry.
New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, an innovative multisite church known around the world and an organization that Glassdoor has named a #1 U.S. Best Place to Work. But it didn’t happen by accident. In 1996, a handful of congregants worshipped together in a two-car garage. Today, the church welcomes tens of thousands of attendees in multiple states across the country and globally at Life.Church Online.
Lead Like It Matters presents Groeschel’s transformative insights on how to effectively build a thriving, enduring ministry and organization. Using his skills as a top leader, he combines straight-talk and wry honesty with biblical and leadership principles to equip you with the tools to:
*Recognize when your organization or ministry has the indefinable but tangible it that leads to success
*Identify and implement seven leadership principles for a church that lasts
*Ignite a fire in your team to leave behind what we’ve always done for the meaningful ministry you know is possible
*Discover the three areas every leader must master for success
Lead Like It Matters reveals the secret for building ministry momentum and then keeping it going.
*This is a completely revised and updated version of the book previously published as It.
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Preaching To A Divided Nation
$24.99Add to cartWe live in angry times. No matter where we go, what we watch, or how we communicate, our culture is rife with division and polarization. Unfortunately, Christians appear to be caught up in the same animosity as the culture at large. While our faith calls us to Christian unity, the hard fact remains: our churches are tragically divided across class, ethnic, gender, and political lines. As these social chasms grow–both inside and outside the church–the role of the preacher becomes paramount.
This book issues a prophetic call to pastors to use the influence of their pulpits to promote reconciliation and unity in their churches and communities. Two scholar-practitioners who are experts in homiletics and reconciliation present a practical, 7-step model that empowers faithful leaders to bring healing and peace to their fractured churches and world. The book includes questions for reflection, salient illustrations, and an accountability covenant. It also includes useful appendixes on preaching themes, preaching texts, and sample sermons from three leading preachers: Ralph Douglas West, Rich Villodas, and Sandra Maria Van Opstal.
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Saving Your Church From Itself
$16.99Add to cartAs a coach and mentor to hundreds of pastors, Chris Sonksen has had a front-row seat to the unfortunate outcomes when a team member begins to drift from the vision of the church and the leader they serve. But the good news is, these situations never come out of left field. There are always warning signs that, if heeded, allow church leaders to rise to the challenge of keeping their team healthy, unified, and moving forward together.
In this powerfully practical book, Sonksen unpacks six subtle behaviors that undermine team unity and lead to problems that can derail your ministry and even split your church, including:
– pride
– artificial harmony
– isolation
– a critical spirit
– divisiveness
– disrespectBeyond merely identifying the problems, this book offers you a blueprint for what to do when you see or feel evidence of these behaviors creeping into team dynamics.
Alignment of vision and purpose doesn’t happen by accident, and it isn’t maintained without careful attention and proactive strategies. But with Chris Sonksen’s help, you can save your church from itself.
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Calling Of Eve
$16.99Add to cartA solid biblical foundation for women in local church ministry, grounded in a celebration of women of the Bible.
In The Calling of Eve, Jacki C. King explores what God has accomplished through the unique talents and contributions of women of the Bible, drawing inspiration and lessons for all women in ministry today. From the beginning pages of Scripture to contemporary ministries across the globe, women have had a vital and active role in the story of redemption. Jacki reminds and challenges women in every season of life to uncover their distinct design, purpose, and mission for the glory of God.
Jacki has spent years in many ministry settings, serving others and pointing people to God. In this book, she highlights and celebrates the contributions, gifts, and strengths that women display as image bearers of God, and she paints a vivid picture of women surrendered to God’s calling in their lives.
You will be inspired to follow in the footsteps of the courageous women of faith that Jacki honors in this book.
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How To Lead A Healthy Small Group
$16.99Add to cartThis book shares all you need to know to lead a healthy small group.
You have agreed to head up a small group in your church. Now what? How to Lead a Healthy Small Group is your complete guide to managing a small group effectively. From dealing with conflict to knowing how to direct difficult discussions, this book will be an invaluable resource to you as you lead your small group and encourage it to thrive.
In this book, Pastor Kevin Mills:
*explores the characteristics of a healthy small group and many of the issues you will face as a leader;
*explains how to address common issues that arise in small groups; and
*offers insights into how to equip your members to love God and love one another.
This book includes the biblical basis for a small group ministry, inspirational stories, encouragements, creative ideas, and informative steps on how best to minister to your group members.
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Understanding The Bible As A Whole
$16.99Add to cartEverything you need to grasp God’s big picture in Scripture so you can dive deeper into each book of the Bible.
Every single word in the Bible is powerful and purposeful. But too often we can be guilty of thinking that the details of God’s plan for us must be buried in obscurity somewhere in the vastness of the Bible–as if we’re missing God because we missed that tiny iota subscript in the original Greek. What if it is the opposite? What if our daily purpose, our next step tomorrow, our discernment in the moment comes from a broad understanding of God’s revelation in the Bible? When you grasp God’s Word holistically, your life begins to make more sense each and every day. In this book, Sam Rainer will help you:
*Understand God’s big picture as revealed in the Bible
*Explore the major themes of Scripture
*Know quickly and easily the subject and purpose of each book of the BibleSee the entire masterpiece instead of focusing on the brushstrokes. Understand the broad themes that occur from Genesis to Revelation to find God’s purpose and plan for your life.
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Unwavering Pastor : Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times
$16.99Add to cartLeadership is hard. Pastoring through divisive times is even harder. How do we lead well when criticized? How do we keep loving the church when hurt by her? What does it look like to remain committed to the gospel in cultural division?
Seasoned pastor Jonathan Dodson comes alongside struggling pastors and ministry leaders to guide them into the comfort of Christ. But he doesn’t stop there. Full of wisdom drawn from 2 Timothy, this book will equip you to lead the church with grace, charity and spiritual power through divisive times.
Great for pastors and ministry leaders who need encouragement and insight, or are wrestling with their calling. Makes a thoughtful gift.
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Mark For You
$17.99Add to cartMark’s fast-paced, action-packed Gospel portrays Jesus in a way that is stunningly compelling-and deeply challenging too.
Join Bible teacher Jason Meyer as he unpacks Mark verse by verse. He unveils how the book fits together, marvels at important details, and highlights key themes. Most of all, he helps you to turn your eyes to Jesus-his power, his wisdom, and his compassionate heart.
This accessible, absorbing expository guide is more applied than a typical commentary, making it a great resource for personal devotion, as well as useful for leading small-group studies or for sermon preparation. Contains foreword by Thomas R. Schreiner.
