Warren Wiersbe has compiled meaningful sermons from the church's great preachers in this topical series. Filled with illustrative materials for pastors. Also an excellent resource for personal devotions.

For centuries, the fruit of the Spirit has rightfully served as a wellspring of reflection on the virtues that epitomize the Christian life and character-building. However, the notion of the fruit of the Spirit is not limited solely to forming the biblical foundation of ethical living. Psychologist and theologian Zoltán Dörnyei argues that if we understand the nine attributes collectively as a concise portrayal of the ideal Christian self, this approach places the notion of the fruit of the Spirit at the intersection of several important theological themes, such as being conformed to the divine image, the gradual advancement of the kingdom of God, and new creation. In The Psychology of the Fruit of the Spirit, Dörnyei offers a scholarly exposition of the relevant theological content associated with the fruit of the Spirit. Complementing his theological reflections with findings from the field of psychology, he brings expertise in both psychology and theology to bear on this important biblical concept. His integrated perspective helps to uncover the full meaning and theological potential of the fruit of the Spirit by helping to clarify the nature of its nine facets, defining broader psychological dimensions that underlie the fruit, and offering practical lessons for cultivating it in the Christian life.

We want to live loving, joyful, anxiety-free lives. Yet how can we live in grace when we’re so busy battling our old patterns of behavior? Jerry Bridges explores the nine aspects of the “fruit of the Spirit” described in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities of character can truly mark our lives if we devote ourselves to a twofold pursuit: God-centeredness and God-likeness. Jerry shows us how to practice the fruit in daily life. When The Fruitful Life first released, Jerry said, “It was the book I had wanted to write that included everything I forgot and/or learned since The Pursuit of Holiness.”

This book is truly one of a kind! Through satire and humor, author Perry C. Cotham colorfully shares a wealth of practical insight about church life in general and pulpit ministry specifically. In Please Don’t Revive Us Again! he presents a unique picture of authentic Christian men and women and the joys, pains, and serendipities they experience along their faith journey. As preaching and teaching minister, Cotham offers a collection of humorous, irreverent, and sometimes sad stories and observations from his long career within one unique Christian tradition. Informative and entertaining, he discusses situations and people culled from church life, ministerial training at a Christian college, and the practical realities of a spiritual vocation. Literally hundreds of fascinating and colorful personalities are named and stories narrated. Containing a delightful mixture of the good, the bad, and the ugly, Please Don’t Revive Us Again! gives insight into the life of a minister and shares the advice and lessons he learned along the way. Some readers may disagree with Cotham’s applications or feel discomfort with some of his stories, but most will find it difficult to put this book down.

R. C. Sproul has committed his life to clearly communicating deep, practical truths from God's Word to students and laypeople. His lucid teaching style brings clarity to the most difficult--and often contentious--biblical and theological questions. Gathered here in one volume are three of his best-selling books--over $40 worth of reading at a great low price. From Rudolf Otto's" mysterium tremendum" to Martin Luther's "insanity"and Jonathan Edwards's fiery sermons, Sproul's classic "The Holiness of God"illuminates history and Scripture to help readers understand--and live with--the tension that exists between God's terrifying holiness and his inexplicable grace. In "Chosen by God," Sproul tackles the divisive subject of predestination, and discusses God's sovereignty and the problem of evil, human freedom, and the task of evangelism. He explains that there is a mystery in God's ways but not contradiction; and paints a picture of a loving--not spiteful or whimsical--God who provides redemption for radically corrupt people."Pleasing God" explores the topic of sanctification--how we satisfy God by pursuing righteousness. Sproul examines the constant battle Christians wage against sin--pride, slothfulness, dishonesty. He reveals how many Christians have tragically abandoned the struggle, but that God delights in those who press on. Although Sproul brings a Reformed background and approach to topics, his work is not just for Calvinists but for all Christians who want to understand and build on the foundations of their faith.

Fruit of the Spirit: Discerning Gods Expectation in the Local Church is based on the following scriptural text: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:2223, NIV). Originally, this was my PhD dissertation. To provide resource materials for pastors and laypersons in sermon and Bible study preparations. My intent is to give a thorough theologically based discussion and understanding of the fruit of the spirit, as defined in Galatians 5:2223. I will weave together scripture with lively illustrations from personal experiences, selected quotes, and stories. My hope for the reader is to better discern Gods expectation of these fruit in your life and in the local church.

Henry H. Mitchell’s great contribution to the study of preaching has been his insistence that the homiletical practices of the Black church are gifts to the whole church. Nowhere has he made this point more forcefully than in Celebration and Experience in Preaching. In this classic text he advocates a way of preaching that genuinely engages all aspects of the congregation’s attention, especially the ability to both understand and to feel the sermon’s message. In this revised edition Mitchell builds on this groundbreaking work by examining in greater depth the multiple ways in which we experience the preached word, by defining the different kinds of claim on the behavior of the hearer that biblical texts express, and by exploring various genres of sermon to discover the concrete manifestations of celebration and experience.

John Fletcher was an influential figure in the history of Methodism. This study, based on a reading of the primary sources in Fletcher and John Wesley, looks at Fletcher's pneumatological and dispensational themes and examines Fletcher's relationship with Wesley and other significant figures of early Methodism in England and America. The author, professor of systematic theology at Asbury Theological Seminary, argues that Fletcher and Wesley agreed on the meaning of sanctification in light of the language of the Pentecost. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR