eBooks de Religión, página 2 de 5

Everyday Encounters with God Through the Lens of C. S. Lewis For many Christians, the mysticssaints and teachers throughout Christian history who have experienced direct encounters with Godare in a category of their own. We read about the supernatural experiences of biblical figures like Moses, Isaiah, and John, and historical figures like Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross, but how can we have spiritual experiences like theirs when our own walks with God feel ordinary and mundane?In The Everyday Mysticism of C. S. Lewis, professor of spiritual formation Gary Selby shows us what the mystics can teach us about everyday spirituality through the eyes of one of the most beloved Christian authors of the last century.C. S. Lewis deeply respected the mystics and thought that their experience truly represented the glory of God breaking into human existence. Lewis believed that in our daily encounters with beauty, we can glimpse the same kind of transcendent union with God that the mystics were given, and that the rich treasures of their tradition could be mined to enrich our day-to-day lives in Christ.What youll find in this book: Practical guidance on spiritual growth and practices like centering prayer and contemplative attention using Lewiss paradigm. How Lewiss work lies at the intersection of experience and theological reflection. A scholarly yet accessible exploration of C. S. Lewiss body of work that illuminates a seldom-analyzed dimension of his thought and writing. Whether you are a lifelong Lewis fan or just discovering his works, youll journey through the influence of the mystical tradition on Lewiss life and work and see how to practice everyday mysticism in the way that Lewis would. With The Everyday Mysticism of C. S. Lewis, experience Lewiss thought in a new way and behold the extraordinary beauty of God in the everyday moments you might be tempted to take for granted.

Exchange Dissatisfied Hurry for Life at the Pace of Peace "So much to do, so little time," so the saying goes. For many today, our attention is stretched thin by overextended schedules, unmanageable calendars, and an impossible to-do list.But what if the more we try to do everything, the less we are doing anything truly meaningful?In The Pace of Peace, pastor Jay Y. Kim invites you to fight distraction and focus your attention by examining your life with God. Drawing on the Prayer of Examen developed by Ignatius of Loyola as a framework for all of life, Kim guides us through the movements of this ancient prayer practiceinvitation, gratitude, reflection, confession, and looking forwardto point us toward the antidotes for the aches of our distracted age.In The Pace of Peace, you are invited to move: from the toil of absence to the gift of presence from the striving for me to the gift of gratitude from the wreckage of reactivity to the gift of reflection from the shackles of pride and shame to the gift of confession from the futility of self-will to the gift of Gods will A deep life is incongruent with a fast life. God invites you, instead, to live with your mind at ease, setting your life to the pace of peace. Free to be fully present. No longer straining to prove yourself. Settled and secure in the presence of God.Encounter God in all of life and discover the peace and ease of being present, known, and fully loved with The Pace of Peace.

Lessons from Midwives for Pastoral Leadership We find ourselves in a moment in which the church is in great pain. Congregations are dwindling, denominations are fracturing, and church scandals have become all too common. We need a new imagination to capture the hopefulness of God birthing something new in the midst of the pain of the old creation. In The Pastor as Midwife, Shawna Songer Gaines brings her pastoral experience alongside her research on the vocation and practices of midwifery to explore a vision of pastoral leadership that is shaped by the wisdom of those who walk alongside expectant mothers. Learning to pastor like a midwife helps us embrace what God is doing in our pain and see new life in unlikely places.This book gives pastors a ministry paradigm that embraces change and pain as part of Gods salvific work in the world. Gaines helps pastors embrace a new, life-giving posture for ministry marked by advocacy, listening, and letting go of control. Like the apostle Paul in Romans 8:22, pastors who long to witness the birth of Gods new creation are invited to imagine their work like a hopeful midwife.With The Pastor as Midwife, you will: learn how the practices and wisdom of midwives offer a new way of approaching pastoral leadership, a way that begins and ends with a hopeful view of Gods work in birthing new creation; engage with thought-provoking reflection questions to explore your own leadership patterns; and reenvision ministry to see change and pain as integral to Gods life-giving work in the world. Wherever you are in your journey as a pastor, The Pastor as Midwife offers a thoughtful and hopeful perspective on ministry in a changing and often challenging world. Learn to witness and partner with God in the birth of new creation with The Pastor as Midwife, trusting in the Spirit of God who brings new life to a fallen but beautiful world.

Heaven: Why It Matters Here and Now Have we forgotten heaven? Bestselling author and pastor Brian Zahnd invites us to remember heaven, to experience and embrace the divine mystery of the spiritual realm in this lifetime. This slow and steady progression of a deeper Christian faith that draws us nearer to Goda "pilgrimage of the soul"fosters in us a love for both the heavenly and the earthly.For too long, the conversation about heaven has been caught between two extremes. On one hand, there is the shallow "escapist" theology that reduces salvation to a reservation for the afterlife, unconcerned with Gods good earth or issues of justice in the world.On the other hand, many of us have overcorrected, hyperfocusing on the here and now and losing sight of the spiritual reality beyonda fatal mistake if our Christianity is to have a compelling message in the twenty-first century. Our faith must once again speak confidently and humbly about the reality of the spiritual worldthe reality of unseen existences.In Unseen Existences, youll find a fresh way of looking at heaven that pushes back against extremes, a vision for life as a pilgrimage to our true home in heaven and union with God, and encouragement to persevere through the injustices of this world with hope. Unseen Existences will help you renew your faith, expand your perspective, and re-embrace the divine mystery of heaven. Though life can be uncertain and unjust, our pilgrimage is preparing us for the world to come, where we will see Christ face-to-face. With the company of our Helper, Advocate, and Comforter, we press on, trusting he will lead us home.

Faith Conversations for a Modern World Have you ever wanted to look over the shoulder of an expert apologist as he has conversations about faith?Louis Markos, acclaimed author of From Plato to Christ and Passing the Torch, gives you a seat at his table for an international potluck dinner held in his home, where guests from many faith traditions and walks of life engage in spirited discussion about faith, miracles, and the meaning of life.My Apologetics Dinner Party presents a method of talking about Christian faith that is not based primarily on propositional logic or the defense of truth claims (though these features do show up). Instead, he aims to clarify what Christians actually believe through a winsome and engrossing narrative in the tradition of Socratic dialogue. The conversations in this book are rooted in real-life interactions Professor Markos has had with skeptics, seekers, and adherents of other faiths throughout a lifetime as a professional apologist for Christianity.In My Apologetics Dinner Party, you will get a unique opportunity to look over the shoulder of an expert apologist in action. observe a laid-back, conversational approach to evangelism built upon hospitality and designed for life in a modern, pluralistic society. see an example of how to engage in conversational apologetics among people of diverse cultural, educational, and religious backgrounds. hear dialogues, rather than debates, as creative narrative in the Socratic tradition. Youll be entertained as well as enlightened as youre taken up in the banter, humor, and atmosphere of lively dinner conversationonly to find at the end that some of your deepest questions have been addressed. If you are looking for a book that will show you how to discuss your faith in a real-life setting with friends who have deep questions to ask but dont want to hear a sermon, or a book you could give to curious seekers to read on their own, youll find it in My Apologetics Dinner Party.

"By his wounds we are healed" Isaiah 53:5 We are wounded people. In this fallen world, people are hurt and exploited. Children are abused. Marriages are broken. Tragedies of all kinds afflict us and the ones we love. Woundedness, it seems, is simply a fact of life.But we are not alone in our suffering. Despite our emotional, psychological and physical injuries, God has not abandoned us. God is not distant or aloof. On the contrary, through the ministry of Jesus, God enters our painful situations to bring healing and redemption.Balancing sound biblical exposition with sensitive pastoral care, Stephen Seamands examines the profound implications of Jesus crucifixion for our healing and restoration. Because Jesus experienced abuse, shame and rejection, he understands the hurts we experience today. And his response to pain and suffering gives us hope that we too can experience forgiveness and new life.Filled with real-life stories of peoples brokenness and healing, Wounds That Heal offers comfort for our wounded souls. Ultimately, we take heart that God not only understands our pain but has done something about it. Encounter here the promise that the wounds of Jesus are wounds that heal.

In the midst of overwhelming or lingering grief, sometimes the only comfort is knowing that youre not alone. This courageously honest, beautifully designed book offers solace through shared stories of loss. Our grief is our own, as unique as a fingerprint, as fragile as a snowflake. Yet others have crawled through this same valley, stumbling blindly under the shadow of death. In the pages of this exquisite book of stories, meditations, and art, you will meet fellow mourners: presidents and poets; scientists and theologians; writers and filmmakers; artists and musicians; homebodies and wanderers. They, too, wrestled with questions known to all who grieve: Why did this happen? Where are my loved ones now? How can I go on? The 27 meditations in A Hope Observed offer a chance to understand loss and find meaning in our lives ahead. Bereaved father David Bannon weaves his own story into the stories of others, sharing his struggles with doubt, regret, and unanswerable questions. Each days meditation includes Scripture, a reflection prompt, and a work of art that expresses sorrow and love in surprising ways. Bannon also explores startling advances in grief therapy that confirm our suspicions: our dead are with God even as we feel them near; we are not crazy; our grief is normal, healthy, and expected. A Hope Observed is unflinchingly honest, revealing how loss can cause even the strongest person to lose their bearings completely, with no "ending point" in sight. Yet, there is a quiet hope that comes in the company of others, and a light that begins to appear as we realize that grief is love, and the One who walks with us knows our sorrows. A Hope Observed uncovers a bedrock truth: There is nothing we can say that God does not understand. There is nothing we can say that God does not want to hear.

"Mako has a lot of wise things to say about beauty in this book . . . one point is worth emphasizing: Beauty refreshes. Beauty alters. Beauty is a revolution in outlook. That makes beauty both a potent balm and a potent provocation, especially in times like these." from the foreword by David Brooks, New York Times columnist and author of How to Know a Person Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year Christianity Today Book AwardsAward of Merit Cultivate Practices That Care for the Soul of Our Culture "Culture is not a territory to be won or lost but a resource we are called to steward with care. Culture is a garden to be cultivated."We live in an era of cultural war and combativeness. But we all have a responsibility to care for culture, to nurture it in ways that help people thrive. In this second edition of Culture Care, internationally recognized artist Makoto Fujimura issues a call to cultural stewardship in which we become generative and feed our cultures soul with beauty, creativity, and generosity, serving others as cultural custodians of the future.This is a book for anyone with a calling to createfrom visual artists, musicians, writers, and actors to entrepreneurs, pastors, and business professionalswho wants to reach across boundaries with understanding, reconciliation, and healing. As creative catalysts, we can contribute to the shared culture that affects human thriving today and shapes the generations to come.Whats New in the Second Edition Carries forth the call to steward and restore culture so that people and communities may thrive A new introduction and additional content addressing the significance of culture care in an era of culture wars New material on generative thinking and culture care as public theology Enhanced with 15% more new content including real life stories and fresh insights to help deepen your understanding This book also includes a study guide for individual reflection or group discussion. Culture care is about shaping culture by fostering beauty, cultivating understanding, and offering hope. If you want to learn how to engage with culture in a more meaningful way, read Culture Care and discover how to become a hopeful, generative contributor to the world around you. Culture Care is your invitation into a vision of cultural engagement rooted in beauty, restoration, and spiritual depth.

Illuminating Advent Through Diverse Voices from Early Christianity In Candles in the Darkness, historian Lynneth Miller Renberg and theologian Adam R. Renberg invite us to travel back in time and encounter faithful voices from many walks of life, including bishops and mothers, monks and nuns, priests, pastors, and noblewomen.For each day of Advent and the Christmastide, this thoughtful devotional will connect you to the global and historical body of Christ, offering a new, deeper experience of the season through rediscovering treasures from Christians of long ago.The writers featured in Candles in the Darkness lived throughout the early Christian world, from Scandinavia and the British Isles to Ethiopia and China. They include well-known leaders such as Augustine of Hippo and Francis of Assisi, as well as many largely forgotten figures. With a variety of sermons, poems, theological meditations, and more, these selections draw you into the wonders of Christs first and second comings. Through biographical sketches at the end of the book, youll learn more about each historical believer.Each daily reading for Advent and the twelve days of Christmas includes a Scripture text, an excerpt from an author from the second through thirteenth centuries, a devotional reflection, and a prayer. By reflecting on the perspectives of women and men from different chronological, geographic, and theological traditions in the ancient and medieval church, your readings of familiar Scripture passages will be enriched with new perspectives and insights from past brothers and sisters in Christ. As you worship and learn together with them, youll be reoriented toward Christ, our light in the darkness.When your spiritual life feels stagnant, the world feels too noisy, or Advent feels like just another repetitive season, Candles in the Darkness can help you know God more fully by seeing him through the eyes of past believers.

"When we interact with our LGBTQ+ neighbors we are not interacting with an ideology, a political movement, a social media post, a caricature from a movie, or a law being debated in Congress. We are interacting with people made in the image of God, who our Savior bled and died to redeem. We are interacting with someone God literally loved to the point of his own death."Cultivate Community With LGBTQ+ Neighbors Too often, fear and suspicion have characterized churches response to LGTBQ+ people. As we remain committed to the historic Christian teachings about marriage and sexuality, American evangelical churches have also harmed a community we have not understood. Our default has been to keep LGBTQ+ people at arms length.But there is another way, one that resists both culture wars and the pressure to revise scriptural teaching; one that embraces people and clings to historic witness.In Love All Our Neighbors, Tony Scarcello shows how holding a traditional sexual ethic does not have to lead toward the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people from church. Drawing from biblical theology, cultural data, and the authors personal experience as a same-sex-attracted pastor, this book teaches traditional Christians and churches how to truly care for LGBTQ+ people. Scarcello explains how churches can and should be places of conviction, humility, and radical love for everyone.In Love All Our Neighbors, youll learn how Jesus loves LGBTQ+ people and desires to know them, how churches have built unbiblical barriers between LGBTQ+ people and Jesus, and how to dismantle these barriers and minister with care, without compromising orthodox theology. If youre a church leader who upholds a traditional sexual ethic and seeks to genuinely care for LGBTQ+ individuals, youll find this book both challenging and transformative. With thoughtful guidance, Love All Our Neighbors equips churches committed to historic Christian teaching to overcome barriers, fostering a Jesus-centered, life-giving community that embraces everyone with grace and love. Our churches can become environments where LGBTQ+ people can find and follow Jesus in life-giving community.

Connect Your Creativity with the Creator In In the Beginning We Create, award-winning graphic designer and artist Nathan L. Nicholson reflects on Gods timeless patterns of creation, offering practical insights for how and what you create. Nicholson guides you through twenty-one reflective meditations inspired by Gods creative process, each paired with the authors original artwork, uncovering how collaboration, creation, and rest are essential rhythms for expressing your unique creative vision.Nicholson explores how God is the ultimate Creator, and his creative abilities are beyond compare. In the Beginning We Create invites you to explore Gods creative process and discover how you can emulate his creativity in the creative gifts he has given you. Using the book of Genesis as the foundation, youll dive into the story of God creating the universe and find inspiration for your own creative journey. If the Creator of the universe took time to rest, the cycle of creation and rest is necessary for our healthy creativity as well.Key Features: 21 inspiring reflections that draw from the Genesis creation narrative and other Scripture passages 40+ original artworks by the author thoughtfully included throughout the book Insights for spiritual growth as you learn how the process of creating connects you with God and has purpose and meaning Though this book, youll see how no matter the creative discipline you use, you can offer your creativity back to God, discovering new ways to reflect the Creators handiwork in your life.If you yearn to create with intention and purpose, this book will help you view creativity through a new lens: aligning your creativity with divine purpose. Learn how you can honor God with every word, stroke, or melody you create with In the Beginning We Create.

Transform Your Suffering with Tools from Theology, Psychology, and Spiritual Formation We dont like pain.So, we find creative ways to go around it. We try to ignore, minimize, or deny our suffering, but were still left hurting. The twisting and defiling work of sin on this world is overwhelming and shatters our assumptions about ourselves and our place in the world. And yet, the path forward is through suffering. Our afflictions present an opportunity to encounter God and allow him to redeem our suffering.Drawing on six years of research, When the Journey Hurts untangles common misconceptions about suffering, instead helping you find meaning in it. The authors integrate theology, psychology, and spiritual formation to provide actionable steps and tools that teach you how to suffer well in relationship with God and others.This book introduces seven key practices to help you uncover meaning in your suffering, equipping you to engage with suffering in a healthy, faithful way: Identifying with Christs suffering Lament Surrender Forgiveness Gratitude Memento mori (remembering our mortality) Weaving our story of suffering into Gods story These practices are supported by both theological insights and psychological research, providing a unique approach to navigating suffering. Rather than diminishing the weight of your pain, this book is designed to help you transform suffering into an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper connection with God. With When the Journey Hurts, youll find that your pain can lead you closer to Jesus.

A Spiritual Journey Toward Healing and Justice for Christians of Color You are born from a seed that cannot die. In a world filled with discrimination, racially motivated violence, and miscarriages of justice, hope and joy can feel unattainable, and lies denying your personhood try to dim the truth that you are created in the image of God.In Seeds of Racial Healing, counselor and spiritual director Sheila Wise Rowe offers you a season of rest and restoration. Her spiritually formative approach enables you to deepen your faith as you pursue healing from racial trauma, past and present.Anchored in daily Scriptures, these fifty-two devotions help you become more aware of God every day, even as you confront interpersonal racism and systemic oppression. In each devotion, Rowe inspires readers to share your stories and reminds your weary soul that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.In these devotions, youll find personal stories, prayer and encouragement, Scripture passages, questions for reflection, and actionable steps to help you pursue both healing and justice. If youre a Christian of color looking for a an accessible, trauma-informed devotional, Seeds of Racial Healing will help you confront challenges, embrace your worth as a child of God, and sow seeds of healing and transformation, whether on your own or as part of a group. Youll find encouragement to employ rest, resilience, and the power of faith to nurture growth in yourself and your community.

Small Steps to Help Children Flourish in a Hurried World Many children today are caught up in the frantic pace of life, rushed along by forces beyond their control. When kids grow up too quickly and experience life at top speed, they are left distracted, anxious, and struggling to find depth.The good news is its possible to help children experience life at a slower pace. In Savoring Childhood, youll learn how to push back against the demands of our superficial, automatic, and always-on culture as you walk through five essential ways of slowing: Slow gratification Slow schedules Slow media Slow consuming Slow growing up Drawn from an average familys experiments with resisting the rush of life and spiritual formation wisdom from voices like Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, Grace Pouch presents practical steps to slow things down so that children can grow deep relational roots, inward character, and a flourishing friendship with God.With Savoring Childhood, youll learn how to identify whats moving too fast in kids lives; set a pace of life that supports freedom, connection, and depth; and implement practical solutions to give children a grounded, non-anxious, and spiritually rich childhood. God designed childhood to be abundant. Whether in your home, your classroom, or your ministry, you can learn how to partner with God to slow things down so that the children in your life can flourish.

Find Peace in His Presence: A Companion for Your Spiritual Retreat Do you feel inundated from all sides, your soul overwhelmed by endless consumption, constantly absorbing relentless content wherever you go? Yet does your soul still feel hungry and satisfaction seem out of reach? What youre longing for is solitude with God. Come Away and Rest invites you to step away from the noise of a hurried world and into the sustaining presence of God.Alyson Pryor gently guides you on a healing, life-giving path of spiritual renewal through personal retreats of silence, solitude, and intentional rest. This thoughtful guide offers step-by-step instructions for customizing six types of personal retreats that you can practice from anywhere. Whether youre new to the idea of retreats or looking for fresh guidance, this book will be a nurturing companion for your spiritual growth.In Come Away and Rest, you will find: Guidance for how to prepare for a personal spiritual retreat Step-by-step instructions for crafting six personal retreats, ranging between six hours to several days Wisdom for re-entering life after a retreat If you need discernment, are grieving, are going through a time of transition, or are simply weary, Come Away and Rest helps you find the sacred rhythm of spiritual retreat. Pryors reflections lead you through the deeper purpose of resting in Gods presencea practice that isnt just restorative but essential. Discover the rest your soul longs for. Get your copy of Come Away and Rest and be inspired to make retreating with God an essential rhythm in your spiritual life.

Discover the Beauty and Depth of Ordinary TimeMost days in Jesus life were ordinary. Most of ours are too. And thats exactly where the power of Ordinary Time lies. It reminds us that normal is necessary, and routines are for things that matterthings worth repeating.Ordinary Time by Amy Peeler invites Christians to see the beauty and significance in the longest, yet often overlooked, season of the church year. Far from being mundane, this season is a vital time for spiritual growth and maturitya time when the routine helps sustain and nurture faith. This time in the church calendar isnt just a placeholderits a vibrant and essential season in its own right.Amy Peeler skillfully explores the history and deeper meaning of what the church has historically called Ordinary Time, unpacking how this season fosters both personal and communal transformation. With pastoral wisdom and scholarly insight, this short but profound volume enriches understanding of the church calendar and inspires readers to engage deeply with their faith.In Ordinary Time, Peeler explores the history and practice of the season, inviting readers to engage more deeply with its observance, highlights how Ordinary Time fits within the larger context of the church calendar, and shows how the rhythms of the season teach us how to live faithfully in both the "normal" moments as well as the highs and lows of life. Whether youve long walked in the rhythms of the church year or are just beginning to explore them, Ordinary Time will open your heart to the quiet, steady growth God invites us into every day. Get your copy today!About the SeriesEach volume in the Fullness of Time series invites readers to engage with the riches of the church year, exploring the traditions, prayers, Scriptures, and rituals of the seasons of the church calendar.

"This book is a gift to all parents trying to navigate the complexity of raising children in todays world. ... I wish I could make this book required reading for every parent." - Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel WomenHow can you raise your children to not just to survive but to thrive in a world filled with complex and confusing conversations about gender, sexuality, and relationships? Navigating the birds and bees is challenging enough for parents. Kids today are faced with all sorts of complex issues, and often at a very early age. When is it too early to talk about sex? How can we begin to view the gender conversation? How do we help our kids not to approach the world fearfully but to walk into it confidently--even in the worlds most controversial spaces?Laurie and Matt Krieg believe that, as a Christian parent, you can approach sexual topics with confidence and grace by laying a solid gospel-centered foundation from early childhood onward. Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World offers you theological guidance, parenting principles, and age-appropriate insights for addressing complex issues in healthy ways: issues like marriage and singleness, Gods design for sex, same-sex attraction and sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual abuse, and pornography.In Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World, youll learn to: Present Gods purpose for both marriage and singleness Explain Gods design for sex with clarity Discuss gender identity from a biblical perspective Protect your children from sexual abuse Prevent porn addiction Promote online safeguards Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World is a timely and essential resource for todays Christian parents. Rather than retreating in fear, you can respond to the brokenness of the world with the goodness, truth, and beauty of the gospel and help your kids to do the same. Cast a gospel vision for your kids so that no matter how they experience sexual brokenness within them or around them, they have the tools they need to choose the way of Jesus no matter what.

Global Voices on Global Mission Global mission has moved into a new era when it is no longer just "from the West to the rest" but rather "from everywhere to everywhere." But too often mission workers have not partnered well with local communities, hurting Christian witness and ministry efforts. And as the global church sends more and more missionaries, how can we learn from the past, develop new ways of partnering, and avoid repeating these same mistakes? The book of Acts provides a role model.Many people go into global missions to be like Paul, the pioneer taking the gospel to places where people have never heard. But in an era of mission when the church is truly global, Pauls companion Barnabas is an exceptional model of mission service.In this multifaceted volume, mission practitioners from around the world unpack the life and ministry of Barnabas. Contributors from Zambia, Bosnia, Australia, India, Ghana, New Zealand, Latin America, and the United States provide diverse experiences, global viewpoints, and best practices for effective mission partnerships that embrace humility, generosity, and mutuality.In Barnabass example we find answers for some of the most pressing questions in global mission partnership today: How should we share financial resources with generosity and trustworthiness? How do we advocate for, encourage, partner with, and empower mission partners across cultural and experiential differences? How can our mission partnerships develop as genuine communities of mutuality and visibility for all people involved? How do we wisely face sending, suffering, and division as we partner globally? Barnabas entered sensitive crosscultural situations and could help without hurting. He taught, developed, and trained others while also encouraging and releasing leaders. He modeled mission partnership that is generous, trustworthy, mutual, and empowering. In todays new era of global mission, we need more people like Barnabas. Discover how The Barnabas Factor offers a fresh approach to global collaboration that fosters healthier and more effective crosscultural mission partnerships.

Let Churches Be Churches and Therapists Be Therapists We live in an age where "therapy culture" dominates our cultural milieu. Everywhere we look, therapeutic language and psychological concepts are popularized, misapplied, and lose their medical significance. Therapy and psychiatry are good practices, but when people begin to filter everything in life through a therapeutic lens, it becomes harmful rather than helpful.The church is not immune to this phenomenon. Increasingly, peoples expectations of the church and its leaders are viewed through the lens of psychological health and wellness.In this book, Matthew Loftus unpacks how this kind of "therapy culture" can distort the Christian life. He argues that the church cannot do for people what therapy and psychiatry are designed to do. While church should be a place of healing and love for people who are suffering from mental illness, churches and their leaders should focus on what they are called to do: bringing people together to worship God.What youll get with Resisting Therapy Culture: An understanding of the role of the church in supporting people through mental health struggles A deeper appreciation for the expertise and value of mental health professionals Insight into how both therapy and the church can be good for Christians spiritual and mental health in their own intended ways Encouragement for church leaders to renew their focus on leading people in worship This book is an invitation for church leaders to focus on what the church does best. As Loftus explains, "People will live healthier lives when churches and therapists are working well, but the two do not have the same mission, methods, mandates, or measures of success. . . . Both should do the very best that they can in the sphere of work that God has assigned."

Walking the Radical Path of Jesus in Todays Fractured World In our current cultural moment, we are fractured by political polarization, performative religiosity, consumerism, nationalism, and deepening inequality. Christians need to resist these forces with the alternative spiritual and theological vision of the Jesus Way.Ten Movements of the Jesus Way is a call to reimagine discipleship not as belief alone but as a life radically shaped by the sacrificial way of Jesus. Rooted in Scripture and global Christian traditions, theologian Graham Hill offers a prophetic invitation back to the radical, countercultural path of Jesusa path marked by humility, servanthood, justice, and love.Hill guides readers through ten transformative movements such as: Moving from material success to spiritual riches, confronting the idolatry of wealth and status. Shifting from power to servanthood, exposing the ways Christians have clung to cultural dominance instead of Christlike humility. Moving from exclusion to embrace, challenging systemic racism, xenophobia, and the politics of division with the inclusive love of Jesus. The Jesus Way is a path of deep love for God and neighbor, where discipleship isnt defined by status or success but by sacrificial love, radical generosity, and faithful commitment to justice and reconciliation. This book invites readers to walk that path, living as a people who reflect Jesus in a world desperate for his hope and renewal.Ten Movements of the Jesus Way features: Embodied practices for living like Jesus in radical love and compassionate discipleship Practical ways to join Gods mission to heal, reconcile, and renew the world A global perspective drawn from Scripture and diverse Christian traditions from African, Asian, Indigenous, and Latin American expressions of faith Questions for reflection and discussion great for book clubs or small groups With Ten Movements of the Jesus Way, discover how you can anchor your discipleship in the life and teachings of Christ, reclaim a gospel thats been politicized and commodified, and help restore the Western church.