Do Not Lose Heart is a legacy of encouragement for men and women struggling with the adversities of life. Whether the circumstance is divorce, the death of a loved one, the loss of a career, or a terminal illness, these brief, hope-filled devotions by Dave and Jan Dravecky and visionary paintings by Thomas Kinkade will minister comfort, understanding, and encouragement. Based on 2 Corinthians 4:6-18. Do Not Lose Heart affirms the deep peace that comes from trusting in a wise and loving God.

This book offers an introduction to worship from the standpoint of process theology. It helps worship planners develop services of worship that are characterized by an intense vision of community with God, where depth of feeling surmounts verbal language and touch the believer in the most life-shaping ways. Process conceptuality allows the church to move toward genuinely contemporary worship while drawing from the past, explaining how worship is understood in this Christian tradition and moving to practical approaches such as conceiving the service, preparing the prayers, the liturgy, and the sermon; the sacraments, the wedding and the funeral, and the arts' role in worship. The ultimate goal is not only to show how process theology can inform each aspect of the service of worship, but to help the Christian community deepen its apprehension of God through services of worship.

In Tell Me the Stories of Jesus, pastor and theologian R. Albert Mohler Jr. reveals the unique power of Jesus' parables for today's readers, showing how they announce the kingdom, communicate both judgment and grace, and call every human heart toward transformation in the light of God's love. "He who has ears, let him hear…" The Prodigal Son. The Good Samaritan. The parable of the mustard seed. The stories Jesus told during his earthly ministry are packed with such memorable images and characters that they now permeate our culture's popular imagination. But what if their familiarity has muted their powerful message, causing today's readers to miss their ability to shock and transform? In Tell Me the Stories of Jesus, renowned pastor and theologian R. Albert Mohler Jr. unlocks the power of Jesus' parables for readers today. Jesus perfected the art of telling parables--short stories with a surprising twist and an explosive message that confronted his listeners with surprising (and often uncomfortable) truths about the human heart and the kingdom of heaven. But two thousand years later, modern readers may not grasp the cultural and historical context that made these stories so compelling for Jesus' original audience. Mohler brings Jesus' stories to life, uncovering the context and allowing readers to hear these stories in all their shocking, paradigm-shifting power. Readers will feel a deeper connection with Jesus by stepping into the shoes of his first-century followers and hearing with fresh ears the stories he shared with his closest followers; gain a deeper understanding of the gospel through Jesus' own words; and see the parables in a new light, experiencing--perhaps for the first time--their ability to draw people into Jesus' kingdom. Every parable Jesus told contains judgment and grace. They hold up a mirror that reveals the human heart--and invites everyone to welcome Jesus' kingdom and reign. Will you have ears to hear their vital message?

Everyone wants to know how to talk to God and get answers to their prayers. Yet most people are skeptical of prayer, or convinced they’re doing it wrong. Is there a secret to talking with God? God is more concerned about the condition of our hearts than the words we use. He cares more about the posture of our hearts than the posture of our bodies. And what is the right heart posture? Humility. The Secret to Prayer will take readers on a 31-day journey, examining the heart and actions of biblical characters whose prayers were answered. On the other side of the journey, readers will have a more vibrant prayer life, and a more intimate relationship with the God to whom we pray.

It is no easy task to move from a general proficiency in English to navigating the specialized English so often used in theological resources. In addition to linguistic challenges, theology students with English as a second language encounter difficult concepts and different ways of thinking. In response, Exploring Parables in Luke aims to help such students engage with theological literature more effectively. Chapter by chapter, as students work through the theologically rich explorations of Jesus’ parables, they will grow in their proficiency of both English and theology. As a result, students will not only have a greater ability to access English language theological libraries, but also contribute to them.

This handbook, like others in this series, concentrates on exegetical matters that are of prime importance for translators, and it attempts to indicate possible solutions for translational problems that may arise because of language or culture. In this respect the Handbook attempts to deal with the full range of information important to translators. However, the authors do not attempt to provide help that other theologians and scholars may be seeking but which is not directly useful for the task of translating. It is assumed that such information is available elsewhere.

The first topic of Soul War is to try and understand how the faulty interpretation of Scripture has led to the rampant apostasy of so many professing Christians in Western nations. There are several reasons for the present great falling away from the faith, but author Eddy Lewis believes its roots can be traced back to faulty doctrine concerning the true salvation of our souls. The second topic is a close look at end time prophecy and how it relates to serious contemporary world events. There are specific instructions along with promises from God for His saints living at the end of the Church age. Believers are instructed to watch, but also sternly warned of the dire consequences for failing to watch. As the time of our Lord’s return draws near, our understanding of the sealed end time Scriptures becomes attainable for those who diligently seek answers. There is a proper way in which to approach God for understanding His will: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. —Hebrews 11:6

If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and entirely good, why do we need to ask God to do good things? Won't God act for the best regardless? Do our prayers even make a difference? Why do some go unanswered? This brief, accessible book provides a fresh angle on our questions to help us think differently about why we pray and what happens when we pray. John Peckham applies the insights from his successful book Theodicy of Love to the perennial problem of petitionary prayer, offering practical implications for how we might pray and live in ways that advance God's kingdom of unselfish love. Since our understanding of petitionary prayer is inseparable from our understanding of God, Peckham sheds significant light on the nature and character of God and the often-mysterious workings of divine providence. He does so by bringing theological and philosophical nuance to readings of key biblical texts on prayer, weaving in other scriptural clues to articulate an understanding of prayer that highlights not only its necessity but also its urgency. This book will appeal to students, pastors, church leaders, and thoughtful laypeople.