Churches around the world are trying to revitalize their church services. There is almost nothing they will not try. Some embark on multi-million dollar building campaigns while others sell their buildings to plant home churches. Some hire celebrity pastors to attract crowds of people, while others hire no clergy so that there can be open sharing in the service. Yet despite everything churches have tried, few focus much time, money, or energy on the one thing that churches are supposed to be doing: loving and serving others like Jesus. Put Service Back into the Church Service challenges readers to follow a few simple principles and put a few ideas into practice which will help churches of all types and sizes make serving others the primary emphasis of a church service. This revised and updated book now includes discussion questions, perfect for a small group setting. Books in the “Close Your Church for Good” series: Preface: Skeleton Church Volume 1: The Death and Resurrection of the Church Volume 2: Put Service Back into the Church Service Volume 3: Dying to Religion and Empire Volume 4: Church is More than Bodies, Bucks, & Bricks Volume 5: Cruciform Pastoral Leadership

Let’s cut through all the nonsense about spiritual gifts. Here is a down-to-earth discussion about what the spiritual gifts are, how to discover your spiritual gifts, and how to use them in the real world. This book answers such questions as: -Why did God give spiritual gifts? -What are the spiritual gifts? -How can I know my spiritual gifts? -Are some spiritual gifts better than others? -What are the dangers of the spiritual gifts? -Have some spiritual gifts ceased? -What about the spiritual gift of tongues? -How can I embrace and use my spiritual gifts? This book also includes a 125-question Spiritual Gift Inventory test.

No, God did not decide from eternity past to send certain people to hell. Not Esau. Not Pharaoh. Not anybody. This is not how divine election works. This book provides three keys to understanding the doctrine of election, and then takes a careful look at Romans 9:10-24 to show what Paul taught about divine election. Read this book to know that you have been elected by God, and what this means for your life.

Does evangelism and witnessing make you uncomfortable? If so, you’re about to be set free … or maybe you’ll become even more uncomfortable. Using irony, satire, and humor, Jeremy Myers writes Adventures in Fishing for Men as an allegorical story about a man’s quest to become a world-famous fisherman—without ever catching any fish. As an allegory about evangelism, this book is not about fishing, but about fishing for men. While a few of the stories are from the author’s own life, all of the stories portray the general Christian approach to evangelism. As you read Adventures in Fishing for Men, you will see yourself in many of the stories, and will either be set free from some of the strange methods of modern evangelistic practices, or you will become upset at how your cherished traditions are being portrayed. But these were the two ways people responded to the parables of Jesus as well. The nameless fisherman of this book serves as a mirror to all who read of his adventures, shining a light on how far Christianity has strayed from the example set by Jesus. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! lism

You might know what you believe … but do you know that you believe? While many Christians know that they are supposed to believe, they don’t know if they actually do believe. Stop wondering if you have false faith, spurious faith, temporary faith, intellectual faith, or head faith instead of heart faith. All such terms are unhelpful and unbiblical, and cause many Christians to wonder if they have truly believed. By reading this book, you will not only discover how faith works, but also how to know that you believe. This book also answers some of your most pressing questions about faith, such as the relationship between faith and works, whether or not God gives the gift of faith, and how it is possible to be certain about your faith. This book also provides explanations for several key Bible passages about faith.

Why is the Bible so violent and bloody? How can God's behavior in the Old Testament be reconciled with that of Jesus in the New? Do you find yourself trying to rationalize God's violent demeanor in the Bible to unbelievers or even to yourself? Does it seem disconcerting that God tells us not to kill others but He then takes part in some of the bloodiest wars and vindictive genocides in history? The answer to all such questions is found in Jesus on the cross. By focusing your eyes on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, you come to understand that God was never angry at human sinners, and that no blood sacrifice was ever needed to purchase God's love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy. In Nothing but the Blood of Jesus, J. D. Myers shows how the death of Jesus on the cross reveals the truth about the five concepts of sin, law, sacrifice, scapegoating, and bloodshed. After carefully defining each, this book shows how these definitions provide clarity on numerous biblical texts. If you have ever wanted to see God in the light of Jesus, seek no further. J. D. Myers masterfully reveals the truth of who God is, as well as the missing pieces you have been searching for in order to truly understand what is written in the Bible. You will also gain insight into the true plight of humanity and what Jesus came to rescue and deliver us from. Read this book. You will not be disappointed.

“To Timothy, a beloved son” (2 Timothy 1:2). “To Titus, a true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4). Those are intimate words from Paul’s most intimate letters. With sentiments like, “I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you” to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:3-4) and fatherly instructions to Titus such as, “But as for you, speak of things which are proper” (Titus 2:1), you’ll discover a compassionate side of Paul rarely discussed—a mentor concerned for his “sons.” Let Ray Stedman help you plumb the depths of these profound epistles to find wisdom and insight you can use in your own fight of faith.