Every Christian wants to grow into the person God made him to be. Every Christian has a healthier, more spiritually mature version of herself in mind. Every Christian looks upon the future's horizon and imagines a relationship with God ever-increasing in vibrancy and strength. But how does a Christian get there? How does a sapling with good intentions actually become an oak of righteousness? You might think the answer is "regularly read the Bible, pray often, and share the gospel consistently." And those practices are certainly part of it. But in this book, Mason King expands your thinking beyond basic spiritual practices (which typically emphasize what you must do) into a more holistic picture of what a full and flourishing life with God can look like when it is cultivated well (focusing instead on who you might become). In these pages, learn how you can become a vibrant, healthy Christian by regularly offering to God three main dimensions of your life—your attention, your emotions, and your limits—for when you are disciplined in cultivating these environments at the root, you will grow into the right kind of tree.

How do we help women at every stage of life and spiritual maturity grow to know God, be changed by him, and develop and use their talents and gifts? In too many of our Christian contexts, leadership training and ministry opportunities for women are inadequate or totally absent. This short guide puts foundational principles and practical plans—grounded in biblical truth—at your fingertips so, whether you’re in a leadership role at your church or hoping to impact a few friends or neighbors, you will discover insights, wisdom, and impactful “how-to’s” to lead women. Within A Short Guide to Women’s Ministry, you will find: how to choose, train, and keep volunteers how to train theologically grounded teachers how to plan the women’s ministry calendar how to equip women to read their Bibles well how to equip women to grow in their relationship with God and with one another

In a society always seeking the new and novel, Christians can become more grounded and mature through a retrieval of our common tradition. Alex Sosler sets forth the "transcendentals" of truth, goodness, and beauty--along with community--to help readers follow the way of Jesus. Weaving together church history, theology, and devotional practice, Sosler offers a holistic introduction to spiritual formation, encompassing biblical truth, the pursuit of the good life, the contemplation of God, and communal belonging. Each section includes a biblical and historical precedent for the tradition and highlights an exemplar from church history: Augustine on truth, Dorothy Day on goodness, Teresa of Ávila on beauty, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer on church commitment and community. This accessible book provides avenues for a broader and deeper spirituality that can shape the complexity of our souls. It is ideal for undergraduate students and as a formation primer for church adult education classes, classical schools, and homeschooling communities.

A common claim in modern American Christianity is that you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian. The writers of the New Testament, however, would find a Christian faith separate from the church to be unrecognizable. Dean Inserra has often said to his congregation, “There is more to being a Christian than going to church, but there certainly isn’t less.” Belonging to a local church is not something made up by a Christian subculture. The local church was God’s design. It is his grand idea to display his glory and provide the avenue for his people to flourish as his missionaries to the world. When one begins to see the church as God’s plan, the mindset shifts from going to church in order to claim Christianity to seeing oneself as a participant in what God has given his people as a gift. There is a purpose, design, and reason for why the church functions in the manner she does. Consistent practices that may seem as merely tradition upon first glance, are prescribed by God for his people to practice together until Christ returns. The local church, congregated together, is the Lord’s primary plan for discipleship, fellowship, and mission for the Christian life. A Short Guide to Church is not a technical treatment of ecclesiology, but rather a book to put in the hands of every prospective and current church member, to help the body of Christ, expressed locally, to see the purposes and plan of the local church for their life of faith, and why it truly is the best thing going.

We live in a possession and money obsessed culture. The normal American has far more than they need, yet still feel incredibly insecure, needing to grasp it all tightly and continue to gain more. This isn’t just true with our acquisition of things, but also in the way we approach all resources that God has given to us: our time, gifts and talents, our families, and our lives themselves. What is the solution to this problem? Throughout Gospel Generosity you will see how the answer to our obsession with possessions is turning to the Gospel. It's only in the Gospel can we find the type of life transformation that enables us to turn our focus from ourselves to others, to give generously, and follow the way of Christ. God has modeled generosity throughout redemptive history, culminating in the gift of His Son, and this sacrificial generosity is the basis of true gospel generosity. Readers of this book will be called to consider all of their resources and gifts from God that are to be held loosely, ready to be used for God’s purposes. Everything is His anyway. Gospel generosity is simply giving that is rooted in the saving work of Jesus Christ. It is the Christian’s joyful awareness of what Christ has done for them and how they are privileged to participate in proclaiming that work through giving and advancing the Gospel. Generosity sprouts from the Gospel and bears fruit for the Gospel. In Gospel Generosity you will explore topics such as: Giving is an issue of our heart, health, and service to God Tithing is not a required practice of New Testament believers The Kingdom of God calls Christians to humility, selflessness, and fidelity in giving Called by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Christians give generously as an act of Grace to others until Jesus returns

Every day, we are being formed by what we consume and engage. From social media to the latest Netflix binge, our minds are being led by what we ingest with our eyes. Yet, the call of the Christian is this: to be conformed to Christ. The work of Christian formation is an exercise in surrender of the whole self, dwelling in God's Word and allowing Him to shape and mold His people. In this book, you'll find: · A call to recover truth, goodness, and beauty in the work of formation · A clear presentation of key doctrines and the work of "getting it right" for rich Christian formation · Practical guidance on developing a culture of formation within your church · A call to a deepened commitment to formation through embracing humility, cultivating friendship, and pursuing a vibrant spiritual life

What if there was a way to enjoy marriage amid the unrelenting trials of life as a military spouse? Through multiple combat deployments, unexpected reintegration problems, frequent solo parenting, the post-traumatic effects of war, and twelve moves, Ashley realized she needed a plan to survive military life. Exhausted from living with a resentment-filled heart, she laid down her futile efforts to control this unpredictable lifestyle and decided to try something new—modeling Jesus in her marriage. Even though the demands of the military continued to increase, by daily surrendering her life to God and embracing His plans, Ashley finally learned to find purpose and contentment as a military wife. In Mission-Ready Marriage, Ashley allows you to peer into her service-induced marriage challenges and shares the secrets that brought her healing and joy. Applying God’s truths to all areas of military marriage, Ashley helps spouses, from brand new to seasoned, unearth hope in this arduous journey. To equip you fully, each chapter includes a detailed list of essential resources, next steps, prayers, and reflection questions. Most important, you’ll discover Jesus in this book. Through a relationship with Him, may you find transformation in your military marriage beyond anything you can imagine.

How can we love and understand our Islamic neighbors well? Beth Peltola grew up in Southern Africa, and then moved to London to begin her career in missions serving a Turkish-speaking church for refugees and immigrants. She has spent her life training Christians in the tenets of Islam and Christian mission to Muslims. This accessible book will help Christians understand the beliefs of their Muslim neighbors so that they may love them and engage them in gospel conversations. In this biblical response to Islam, you will learn: The primary tenets of the Islamic faith The common misunderstandings Westerners hold about Islam How Christians can best respond and engage their Muslim neighbors The world has moved into our neighborhoods. We have a great opportunity to love our Muslim neighbors like Jesus does.

Spiritual strength—like surgical skill or athletic excellence—requires training and practice. Have you been wanting to cultivate a deeper walk with God? Let Patrick Morley help you craft a personalized set of spiritual practices. In his updated, expanded book, A Man's Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines, you will discover twelve energizing habits that can strengthen your walk with Jesus, including: Experiencing God in creation Letting the Bible change your life Learning the power of prayer Grasping God’s greatness through worship Gaining strength through Sabbath Thriving through fellowship Succeeding through wise counsel . . . and more Morley presents each discipline with a concise overview, relatable stories, and application ideas. This powerful guidebook will help you develop the maturity every man of God was designed to reflect. With an all-new focus on the next generation of men, this book includes updated illustrations and statistics, twelve energizing habits that can strengthen your walk with Christ, and a new expanded section to create your own action plan for the spiritual disciplines.

The goal of this short handbook is to help readers begin to put their faith into practice through spiritual disciplines. The practice of our faith is essentially to embrace our adoption as beloved children of God. This handbook introduces a Christian to the fundamental disciplines of the Christian life. It first discusses the meaning and goal of the spiritual disciplines. It then explores prayer, reading, the division of the day, and occasional practices. It briefly touches on the ordinary means of grace and our liturgical life in the church. A few psalms and a hymn are included to inspire preliminary reading, prayer, and reflection. As an initial instruction in the spiritual disciplines, the text is by no means exhaustive. It can be read straight through or used as a reference for insight, encouragement, or suggestions when needed. It is a short but substantive introduction, appropriate for guided family devotion, instruction, discussion, or use by the adult who wishes to learn about the spiritual disciplines and to begin practicing them.