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A Theological Introduction to the Witness of the Church within the Mission of GodMission is Gods work. God spoke the first promise of gospel hope, sent his Son into this fallen world, and commissioned his Spirit to empower his church for witness. Until the day Christ returns, God has called his people to participate in his mission through evangelism, apologetics, church planting, cultural engagement, gospel suffering, and many other activities that faithfully communicate gospel hope in Christ.This practical introduction provides a biblical framework for understanding the churchs role in Gods mission. It reviews the biblical story of Gods mission, draws insights from the churchs witness since Pentecost, and studies aspects of contemporary Christian witness. Each chapter ends with study questions to encourage further reflection and discussion by church members and ministry leaders. Readers will gain refreshing insights into how they can participate in faithfully bearing witness to Christ through the churchs work in the world today.Confessional and Contemporary:Precisely defines the biblical aspects of Gods mission and Christian witness, built upon time-tested theology, yet freshly applied for witness in the post-Christendom world Accessible:Written for church members, college and seminary students, ministry workers, and church leaders who are committed to creating a community that bears witness to Christ in an unchurched society Practical and Motivational:Clear and crisp writing style, enhanced by many helpful figures and charts, and infused with a gospel passion to declare Gods glory among the nations Spurs Discussion:Thought-provoking study questions at the end of each chapter to encourage further reflection and faithful action

Finding internal coherence within the Old Testament is a challenging task. Numerous scholars over the centuries have provided various, divergent frameworks to organize the content of the Hebrew Bible. Navigating both the Old Testament itself and the history of its interpretation can feel like a maze of complexity.Biblical scholar Kevin Chen offers a way of understanding the Old Testament through the orienting lens of what he calls "nexus passages." Such passages pull the material of the Old Testament together through their high connectivity to other Scripture passages. In his thorough textual analyses, Chen shows how these nexus passages serve as lexical, thematic, and theological hubs for understanding the Old Testament. Both exegetical and intertextual, Wonders From your Law gazes deeply into the text for a constructive, evangelical approach to Old Testament theology.

How do you rebuild your life after it falls apart?Catastrophic events often feel like the end of the world. When we feel like we have nothing left, we sometimes wish for our own end too. Yet God keeps waking us up every morninga sign that God wants us to keep living when our world ends. We must find our way to the new life that awaits us on the other side of loss. But how?Dawn Sanders has traveled this path before and lived to tell the talenot once but twice. After a divorce and then the sudden death of her second husband, Dawn discovered a buried treasure in Genesis 1: Gods process for creating new life out of chaos. In When Your World Ends, Dawn digs deep into the creation story and unearths a seven-step process by which God brings us out of the void and into new beginnings. With her unique perspective, authenticity, and courage, Dawn meets those who are starting over and guides us into renewed hope.

Sometimes Work HurtsWe might be discouraged, disillusioned, or devastated by our work. We might experience trauma or harassment on the job, or we may have experienced work loss by getting fired. If youve been beat up, burnt out, or brokenhearted by work, youre not alone.The Bible tells us that work will be difficultfilled with thorns and thistlesbut no one prepares us for the pain we experience on the job. In When Work Hurts Meryl Herr Explores the emotional, relational, and vocational pain that work causes and helps us rebound and build resilience so we can fully participate with God in his mission, Walks through the biblical story of the Israelites journey of exile, return, and rebuilding as a framework for spiritual and practical resources for navigating work loss, and Shows that we can take comfort in the fact that God is at work in the midst of our work to bring healing and hope.

Key Traits of a Healthy Church to Develop within the Local BodyWhat is an ideal church, and how can you tell? How does it look different from other churches? More importantly, how does it act differently, especially in society? Many of us arent sure how to answer those questions, even though we probably have some preconceived ideas. This book answers those questions and many more.Author Mark Dever seeks to help believers recognize the key characteristics of a healthy church: expositional preaching, biblical theology, and a right understanding of the gospel. Dever then calls us to develop those characteristics in our own churches. By following the example of New Testament authors and addressing all members of the church, pastors and laity alike, Dever challenges all believers to do their part in maintaining the local church. Part of the 9Marks Building Healthy Churches series,What Is a Healthy Church?offers timeless truths and practical principles to help each of us fulfill our God-given roles in the body of Christ.Offers an Ideal Church Model:Encourages pastors and members to implement healthy church qualities within their local body Written by Mark Dever:Pastor, bestselling author, andpresident of 9Marks From 9Marks:Other titles in the Building Healthy Churches series includeChurch Discipline;Deacons; andChurch Membership Replaces ISBN 978-1-58134-937-5

Recovering the Practice of LamentThe church desperately needs to recover the practice of lament. But what exactly are we asking for?The call for lament echoes throughout the pages of Scripture. This ever-present genre shaped the lives of ancient communities, and it should shape the practices of churches today. And yet contemporary Christian communities often dont know how to engage texts of lament in their contexts. In a world experiencing so much pain, a recovery of biblical lament is more necessary than ever.In Walking with God Through the Valley, Old Testament scholar May Young offers a guide for readers to engage lament texts both in their church communities and in their personal lives. Drawing deeply from key passages in Scripture, including the Psalms, Habakkuk, and Lamentations, Young posits that true lament must come out of a deep understanding of the biblical text. Through practicing lament in our own lives, we can move through pain and suffering and experience Gods renewed hope.

However you define it, deconstruction is impossible to deny."Im deconstructing my faith." As any pastor can tell you, hearing these words is simply a regular feature of ministry these days. How we respond to those who are deconstructing will reveal the kind of churchand the kinds of Christianswe really are.Ian Harber knows the fear and grief of deconstruction firsthand. In Walking Through Deconstruction, he tells the story of his own process of deconstruction and reconstruction over more than ten years and explores what is actually happening, both culturally and spiritually, when someone deconstructs their faith.Deconstruction doesnt happen in a vacuum; it is catalyzed by a comfortable society, cultural Christianity, compromised churches, and the compounding anxieties of life. But the Christian faith has better to offer. Harber lays out a vision for the kind of faith environment that can foster genuine reconstruction through healthy relationships, robust doctrine, healthy institutions, a better theology of suffering, and the peace of God.Walking Through Deconstruction tells the authors real life story of deconstruction and reconstruction provides a clear definition of deconstruction acknowledges the urgency of deconstruction while prioritizing patience and trust over fear describes common contributing factors and phases of deconstruction, and casts a vision for healthy communities that help people hold onto faith. We desperately need healthy models of ministry to those who are deconstructing. Whether youre a pastor, parent, or friend of someone on this path, Walking Through Deconstruction offers hope for a renewed faithstronger than it was before.

For centuries, Christians and Muslims have engaged each other in debate and critique. A key area of disagreement is the nature of God: Is God a Trinity or absolutely one? To promote interfaith dialogue, Christians must understand the history of the conversation and also articulate the doctrine of the Trinity in reasonable, compelling ways.In this New Explorations in Theology volume, Sherene Nicholas Khouri offers both historical and constructive responses to Islamic objections to the doctrine of the Trinity. Khouri considers arguments from Arabic Christian theologians and philosophers in the eighth to tenth centuries, primarily John of Damascus, Theodore Ab Qurrah, and Yay Ibn cAd. When Muslims expanded beyond the Arabic peninsula, Christians in occupied regions were spurred to defend the Trinity against the Islamic understanding of tawid, the absolute oneness of Allah, and against misconceptions of Christian belief.Khouri then applies the insights of these little-known thinkers to current theology and apologetics conversations. She makes the case for appealing to the common ground of God as the greatest conceived being, then arguing that such a being must be relational in nature. While Christians today debate models of the Trinity with each other and with Muslims, they can be confident that Christians throughout history have believed in triune relationality and found in the doctrine of the Trinity an invitation to personal relationship with the divine.Featuring new monographs with cutting-edge research, New Explorations in Theology provides a platform for constructive, creative work in the areas of systematic, historical, philosophical, biblical, and practical theology.

The doctrine of deification or theosis has been gaining interest among scholars for some time. Yet most publications on the topic have focused on Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions and have subsumed the discussion under the category of soteriology. If "being transformed into the same image" (2 Corinthians 3:18) is truly essential to the Christian life, a fuller understanding of this biblical concept is needed for Christians of all traditions.In this volume, biblical scholars and theologians offer a constructive account of deification that breaks new ground in key ways. First, several essays focus on the work of major Protestant thinkers and Protestant expressions of the doctrineincluding Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, Wesleyan, Pentecostal, and Evangelical. Second, contributors incorporate deification into arenas that have thus far remained largely unexplored, such as the relationship between justification and deification, applications for theological education, how deification compares with transhumanism, the impact of translation philosophy on the visibility of deification in Scripture, and perspectives on deification in global Christianity.Contributors include both senior and younger scholars from a variety of backgrounds, including Alister McGrath, Ann Jervis, Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Ben C. Blackwell, and Michael Gorman. Transformed into the Same Image invites readers to dive deeper into the doctrine of deification and continue the conversation.

The book of Acts is a vivid portrait of the birth of the church. The Holy Spirit is central, anointing Gods people to bear witness to the gospel and perform mighty wonders and healing miracles. This book will awaken your soul and empower you to join the apostles in spreading Gods kingdom on earth. This 12-lesson study guide on the book of Acts, designed for both individual and group study, provides a unique and welcoming opportunity to immerse yourself in Gods precious Word as expressed in The Passion Translation. Begin your journey exploring details regarding the authorship of Acts, date of composition, first recipients, setting, purpose, central message, and key themes. The study then walks you through every portion from the book and includes features such as notable verses, historical and cultural background information, definitions of words and language, cross references to other books of the Bible, and character portraits of figures from the Bible and church history. Enrich your biblical understanding of the book of Acts, experience Gods love for you, and share his heart with others.

Step into a New World of Hope and LoveFear is our biggest enemy. It sneaks into our lives as worry, uncertainty, or discouragement, clouding our vision for a brighter future. It pauses our dreams, making us doubt the people we want to become and the lives we wish to lead. But what if I told you there was a better waya path to a beautiful future filled with joy?In Tomorrow Needs You, Naeem Fazal opens a new chapterone where fear no longer dictates our lives. He guides you through an inspiring narrative that not only acknowledges the challenges of our world but also celebrates its beauty. By following Jesus example, Fazal paints a vivid picture of a life enriched by hope and perseverance amidst adversity.In Tomorrow Need You Pastor Fazel leads readers to:Embrace Gratitude: Cultivating an attitude of gratitude helps shift focus from what we lack to the abundance that surrounds us, fostering a positive mindset. Practice Forgiveness: Letting go of past grievances opens the heart to joy and allows us to move forward without the weight of resentment. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Engage with uplifting individuals who inspire and empower you, creating an environment that nurtures joy. Engage in Acts of Kindness: Spreading kindness not only brightens others days but amplifies our own joy and strengthens our sense of connection. Find Joy in Simple Moments: Take time to appreciate the little things in lifesunny days, laughter with friends, or a quiet moment in nature. Imagine waking up each day, knowing fear has no hold over you. Envision a world where loss, failure, and rejection are steppingstones, not stumbling blocks. Tomorrow Needs You will help you boldly step into the future, guided by love with the belief that tomorrow truly needs each one of us.

Today, the doctrine of the beatific vision has been woefully forgotten within the church and its theology.Yet, throughout history Christians have always held that the blessed hope of heaven lies in seeing and being in the presence of God, of beholding the beatific vision. With lucidity and breadth, Parkison reintroduces the beatific vision and affirms its centrality for the life of the church today. Parkison argues for the beatific visions biblical foundations and reminds usthrough close readings of theologians such as Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, Dante, Gregory Palamas, John Calvin, and Jonathan Edwardsof the doctrines historical and contemporary significance. The beatific vision is about seeing God, and as Christians have acknowledged across the tradition, seeing God is our ultimate end.

Encounter the Hope of Jesus in the Book of RevelationThe Biblical book of Revelationa text that, for many, remains shrouded in mystery and confusion. The cryptic symbols and visions of the end times often evoke anxiety among believers. Is it even possible to find hope and spiritual growth within it pages? Thinning the Veil is not just a book; its a spiritual guide that combines Biblical scholarship with personal reflection, making the study of Revelation accessible and enriching. Youll discover that the heart of Revelation lies in its opening words"the revelation of Jesus Christ." Its a powerful and personal unveiling, designed to bridge the gap between heaven and earth, bringing Gods presence into our lives in a very real and transforming way.Authored by renowned Biblical scholar Shane J. Wood, Thinning the Veil provides a fresh perspective on Revelation, aiming to transform our understanding of this profound text. Wood invites readers to see Revelation not as a daunting puzzle but as a revelation of Jesus, meant to inspire divine intimacy and spiritual renewal.Each chapter of Thinning the Veil is crafted to deepen your engagement through:Interpretation Tools: Engage with exercises that explore different principles of Biblical interpretation, helping you unlock the deeper meanings within Revelation. Scriptural Insights: Delve into thorough textual studies that illuminate the complex passages, unveiling the profound messages they contain. Spiritual Takeaways: Reflect on spiritual practices and thought-provoking questions designed to invite the Word to transform your soul, just as it did for its original audience. Are you ready to dispel the mystery and uncover the hope that lies within the book of Revelation? Thinning the Veil is your guide to experiencing Revelations hopeful and transformational message.

Discover a New Dimension of Faith and Cinema with The Wages of CinemaIn a captivating realm where cinematic narratives enchant countless viewers, how can one harmonize their faith with the craft of filmmaking? The Wages of Cinema encourages a deep dive into this relationship, drawing upon the significant reflections of Dorothy L. Sayers defending the authenticity of art and truths manifestation.The Wages of Cinema uses examples ranging from the timeless genius of Charlie Chaplin to the cultural phenomenon of Barbie, illustrating how film theory can be enriched by the truths of the Christian faith.The Wages of Cinema will help readers appreciate artistry through:Enlightening Models: Learn how Christians can discuss films intelligently, transcending simple content critique. Historical Insights: Delve into the history of cinema and the evolution of film theories. Sayerss Legacy: Uncover little-known evidence of Dorothy Sayerss engagement with cinema, shedding light on her passion for truth and artistic integrity. Dive into The Wages of Cinema and transform your movie-watching into a meaningful dialogue between faith and art. Whether youre a student of film or a passionate movie lover, The Wages of Cinema will broaden your horizon and deepen your appreciation of cinema.

For years, psychedelics were my religion. All I ever wanted was The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forever, the panacea, the cure for what plagued me. From those first moments when I tasted the earthy pulp of a psilocybin mushroom, it was love. Psychedelics were my sacrament. They shot me into cathedral vaults. The promise of eternal life through chemicals glittered seductively, but hid a yawning abyss.The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forever tells my story of psychedelic devastation and spiritual rescue. It chronicles my trajectory from acid enthusiast to soul-weary druggie to psychedelic refugee. I finally found The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Foreverin the last place I thought to look.

What does it mean to pursue safety in the Christian life?Safety is among the most important concerns of human life: we pursue it instinctively and go to great lengths to avoid danger or harm. However, the category of safety has received surprisingly little focused theological reflection. Important questions for the church have gone unanswered: How do secular understandings of safety shape our imaginations? How can Christians navigate the tension of pursuing safety as a creational good in light of the eschatological aims of discipleship?In this volume in IVP Academics Studies in Christian Doctrine and Scripture series, theologian Jeremy Lundgren provides a constructive theological analysis of safety. After addressing the conceptual development of safety and risk through premodern, early modern, and late modern settings, he gives practical guidance to the contemporary church on how to faithfully engage with the pursuit of safety in the present day.Studies in Christian Doctrine and Scripture, edited by Daniel J. Treier and Kevin J. Vanhoozer, promotes evangelical contributions to systematic theology, seeking fresh understanding of Christian doctrine through creatively faithful engagement with Scripture in dialogue with church tradition.

Volume 2 of Preaching the Words Reader-Friendly Commentary on the Psalms Explores Chapters 42106The Psalms is one of the most widely loved books of the Bible. A source of instruction for our prayers, inspiration for our songs, and consolation for our tears, these biblical poems resound with the whole spectrum of human emotion and teach us to hope in God each and every day. In the second volume of a 3-part commentary on the Psalms, pastor James Johnston walks readers through chapters 42106, offering exegetical and pastoral insights along the way.Edited by R. Kent Hughes, the Preaching the Word expository series is an essential resource for anyone interested in studying, teaching, or preaching the Bible.Expository Commentary on the Psalms:In-depth study explores more than 60 individual psalms and explains how they fit together in Scripture Reader-Friendly:Written by pastors for pastors, this commentary is also an accessible resource for students and laypeople Part of the Preaching the Word Series:This is volume 2 of a 3-part commentary on the Psalms; volumes for other books of the Bible are also available

The books of the Minor Prophets resound with fierce condemnations of injustice and stunning examples ofYahwehs persistent mercy. Centuries-old prophecies come to pass, justice is served to corrupt leaders, and the oppressed are delivered. The book of Hosea presents an intimate allegory of Gods love. The books of Joel, Amos, and Zephaniah proclaim the judgment and blessing of the coming day ofYahweh. The book of Jonah shows Gods eagerness to forgive. The books of Obadiah, Micah, and Nahum vividly warn ofYahwehs wrath on economic exploitation and the enemies of his people. The book of Habakkuk discusses why evil sometimes prospers. The books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi share prophecies of encouragement from when Gods people rebuilt the temple and reclaimed hope after decades in exile. These twelve books balance justice and mercy, inspiring us to live uprightly as we await the universal spiritual renewal and righting of wrongsYahwehwill bring one day. I will keep watching forYahwehto break through ...and I know my God will hear my cry. Micah 7:7

Three Essays on C. S. Lewis and RomanticismMany readers have heard C. S. Lewiss logical arguments for the Christian faith. Yet throughout his wide-ranging study and writing, Lewis often began with experience, intuition, and religious feeling rather than dogmatic assertions. The most profound questions of Lewiss own life, argues theologian and literary critic Jeffrey Barbeau, can be seen in his quest to understand the relationship between personal experience and the truth about the world around him.In a series of three essays, Barbeau explores the influence of nineteenth-century Romanticism on the writings of C. S. Lewis. Barbeau demonstrates Lewiss indebtedness to Romantic notions of imagination and subjectivity, opens new contexts for understanding ideas about memory and personal identity in his autobiographical writings, and explores beliefs about nature and Christian sacraments throughout his writings on Christian faith. This theological and literary investigation reveals Lewis as a profoundly modern thinker and illuminates his ongoing relevance to contemporary debates about theology and culture.Drawing on extensive reading of the marginalia in the personal library of C. S. Lewis held by the Marion E. Wade Center, Barbeau offers a fresh understanding of the influence of modern theology and Romantic poetry, especially Wordsworth and Coleridge, on many of Lewiss most beloved works. Essays and responses include: C. S. Lewis and the "Romantic Heresy," with response from professor Sarah Borden, C. S. Lewis and the Anxiety of Memory, with response from professor Matthew Lundin, and C. S. Lewis and the Sacramental Imagination, with response from professor Keith L. Johnson. Based on the annual lecture series hosted at Wheaton Colleges Marion E. Wade Center, volumes in the Hansen Lectureship Series reflect on the imaginative work and lasting influence of seven British authors: Owen Barfield, G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Dorothy L. Sayers, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams.

You belong to Gods family. But do you understand what that means? The Bible tells the story of God and his people. But it is not merely history. It is our story. Abraham is our father. And Israels freedom from slavery is ours. Brad East traces the story of Gods people, from father Abraham to the coming of Christ. He shows how we need the scope of the entire Bible to fully grasp the mystery of the church. The church is not a building but a body. It is not peripheral or optional in the life of faith. Rather, it is the very beating heart of Gods story, where our needs and hopes are found.