Church Life

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  99 Prayers Your Church Needs But Doesnt Know It Yet

  $9.99

  When the unexpected comes and you can’t find the words to pray, 99 Prayers Your Church Needs (But Doesn’t Know It Yet) will provide the starting point that will help lead you to the prayer your congregation or pastor needs. From prayers for a family who has lost a loved one to addiction, to a prayer for the new pastor in a new congregation, these 99 prayers will help you respond to a multitude of unexpected prayer requests? whether celebratory or grieving, or somewhere in between?in the course of your congregation’s life.

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  8 Virtues Of Rapidly Growing Churches

  $18.99

  Leaders who are interested in planting or revitalizing congregations often feel discouraged and defeated after leadership conferences, or after reading about the ‘heroes’ of church planting and church growth. “They are amazing,” they say. “I can’t be that amazing.” But Jesus’ load is easy and his burden is light. When we examine the practices and characteristics of those ‘heroes’, we see striking trends and commonalities. Aspiring church leaders can learn the practices and develop the characteristics that will lead to successful churches. Instead of feeling defeated, new leaders should have a hope-filled sense of what new thing they can do. Authors Matt Miofsky and Jason Byasse carefully researched, interviewed, and profiled successful church-growers across the U.S., and identified 8 characteristics these leaders and their congregations have in common. These pastors are still learning, still figuring out how to do this work and how to faithfully live into God’s call. But for now, how are they doing what they do? What mistakes have they made & learned from? Where have they paid the stupid tax that others should avoid? Each of these ‘heroes’ is painfully ordinary and up front about their flaws. And each can see slightly farther than the rest of us. What do they see that we can learn from? Discover the 8 characteristics, and learn how to adapt them for your own congregation and calling.

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  Book Of The Elders

  $49.95

  In the early part of the fourth century, a few Christians, mostly men and some women, began to withdraw from “the world” to retreat into the desert, there to practice their new religion more seriously. The person who aspired to “renounce the world” first had to find an “elder,” a person who would accept him as a disciple and apprentice. To his elder (whom he would address as abba–father) the neophyte owed complete obedience; from his abba, he would receive provisions (as it were) for the road to virtue. In addition to the abba’s own example of living, there was the verbal teaching of the elders in sayings and tales, setting out the theory and practice of the eremitic life.

  In due course, these sayings (or apophthegmata) were written down and, later, collected and codified. The earliest attempts to codify tales and sayings are now lost. As the collection grew, they were first organized alphabetically, according to the name of the abba who spoke them, in a major collection known as the Apophthegmata Patrum Alphabetica. A supplementary collection, the Anonymous Apophthegmata, followed. Later, both collections were combined and arranged systematically rather than alphabetically. This collection was created sometime between 500 and 575 and later went through a couple of major revisions, the second of which appeared sometime before 970.

  This second revision was published in an excellent new critical edition, with a French translation, in 1993. Now, in The Book of the Elders, John Wortley offers an English translation of this collection, based entirely on the Greek of that text.

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  Placemaking And The Arts

  $33.99

  We are, each one of us, situated in a particular place.As embodied creatures, as members of local communities and churches, as people who live in a specific location in the world, we all experience the importance of place. But what role does place play in the Christian life and how might our theology of place be cultivated?In this Studies in Theology and the Arts volume, Jennifer Allen Craft argues that the arts are a significant form of placemaking in the Christian life. The arts, she contends, place us in time, space, and community in ways that encourage us to be fully and imaginatively present in a variety of contexts: the natural world, our homes, our worshiping communities, and society. In so doing, the arts call us to pay attention to the world around us and invite us to engage in responsible practices in those places.Through this practical theology of the arts, Craft shows how the arts can help us by cultivating our theological imagination, giving shape to the Christian life, and forming us more and more into the image of Christ.

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  Seeing Jesus In East Harlem

  $21.99

  Introduction

  Part 1: Show Up
  1. El Testimonio: Go And Show Yourself
  2. The “Here I Ams” Of Life: Calling And Holy Disorientation
  3. Incarnational: Tracing Our Presence Through Christ’s Body
  4. Naming Whiteness: Discerning Space As Disciple Making

  Part 2: Staying Put
  5. Staying Public: Welcoming Home The Prophets
  6. Remaining At Work: Becoming God’s Crowdsource In The Barrio
  7. Staying Together: When Hope Became A Household

  Part 3: See
  8. Look Again: Generous Seeing As A Measure Of Discipleship
  9. Curating Heaven: Dance And Dirge At Christ’s Table
  10. El Culto: Marking Life’s Moments, Rescripting Trauma
  11. Apocalypse: Church From A Different Vantage Point

  Acknowledgments
  Notes

  Additional Info
  We are all located in different places. Some of us move from neighborhood to neighborhood or even state to state. And the way we grow as disciples and lead others in spiritual growth depends on our contexts. Pastor Jose Humphreys recognizes how deeply our faith is tied to our particular stories in our particular places. Grounded in his own deep faith and wisdom, he writes out of his experiences as a Puerto Rican pastor who has planted a multiethnic church in East Harlem. In this book, he offers a framework to help church leaders take discipleship seriously in their places, calling them to show up, stay put, and see what God is doing in their midst. Combining spiritual formation with activism, vivid narrative with exhortation, and realism with hopefulness, Humphreys offers pastors and church planters a thoughtful look at discipleship in a complex world.

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  Everyday Life At La Trappe Under Armand Jean De Rance

  $29.95

  This is an annotated translation of the classic Description de l’abbaye de La Trappe, the most important eye-witness account of life at the abbey of La Trappe under Armand-Jean de Rance. The work includes a map showing the physical layout of the abbey and detailed discussions of the monks’ daily life and practice. It was written by Andre Felibien des Avaux for Jeanne de Schomberg, duchess of Liancourt, in 1671, with a new and enlarged edition being published in 1689. That is the edition translated here, with copious notes to help the reader appreciate Felibien’s account.

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  Mapping Church Missions

  $21.99

  Foreword By Paul Borthwick
  Introduction: Charting Our Course
  1. Good News And Good Deeds
  2. Neighbors Near And Far
  3. Crisis Response And Sustainable Development
  4. Time And Money
  5. Benefits And Drawbacks Of Short-Term Teams
  6. Serving The Undiscipled And Discipling The Servant
  7. Minimizing And Embracing Risk
  Conclusion: Mobilizing Our Congregations
  Acknowledgments
  Appendix 1: Beyond Minute For Missions: Connecting Churches With Mission Partners
  Appendix 2: Scenarios For Further Reflection
  Notes

  Additional Info
  The terrain of church missions is often bewildering.

  Should we prioritize evangelism or works of service? Local ministries or overseas missions? What’s more important: giving our money or giving our time? Crisis relief or building sustainable, long-term ministries? And what about the often debated pros and cons of short-term missions trips?

  In Mapping Church Missions, Sharon Hoover brings her years of experience in local church missions to bear on these and other thorny questions. Instead of taking a hardline stance on one end of the spectrum or the other, she approaches each question with nuance, adding helpful data, presenting new perspectives, and always pressing gently past surface questions to the heart of the matter.

  Whether we’re fully aware of it or not, our churches come up against these questions whenever we consider how best to use our resources for the mission of God. Written by an experienced guide, this book maps the terrain of church missions in careful detail, helping us plot our church’s unique course as we seek to serve Christ’s kingdom.

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  True Inclusion : Creating Communities Of Radical Embrace

  $14.99

  Discover how to move your church beyond mere welcome to radical embrace.

  So your church website says you’re welcoming, a rainbow flag flies out front, worship uses gender-inclusive language, and you make sure you greet the stranger next to you on Sunday mornings. But is all of that really enough? And what if those welcoming gestures actually keep visitors from returning and exclude dozens of other groups or people in your community?

  In True Inclusion, public theologian and pastor Brandan Robertson shares how to move your church from mere welcome to radical embrace. Pointing to a clear biblical imperative for radical inclusivity in the sanctuary and in the public square, Robertson presents a paradigm-shifting vision of community, “where nothing is simple, nothing is easy, but everything is beautiful.” Learn practical, step-by-step approaches to becoming deeply, robustly, and richly inclusive of all people regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and socioeconomic status.

  Written for people and communities at every stage of the journey, True Inclusion will challenge and inspire you to embody a gospel of radical embrace for all.

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  Letters To The Church

  $17.99

  Letters to the Church reminds readers how powerful the Church can be and calls this generation to passionately pursue God’s vision for His beloved Bride.

  God’s Church started as a radical, spiritually intimate gathering of believers that ultimately changed history. Yet millions today are content to be mere observers at church. Many more have left, brokenhearted and cynical. But God is waking up His people-people who will risk anything and sacrifice everything to be the dynamic, world-changing Church of Scripture.

  In Letters to the Church, Francis Chan invites readers to wrestle with the fact that many churches have drifted from God’s desire for them. He challenges Christians to ask, “What does God want for His Church? When Jesus returns, will He find us caring for His Bride-even more than for our own lives?”

  Speaking out of deep love for the Church, Chan guides Christ followers to live out God’s magnificent and beautiful vision for His Church-a vision we may have lost but God has never forgotten.

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  What Does It Mean To Be Welcoming

  $19.99

  “Welcoming?” (An Introduction)

  Part One: The Complexity
  1. Meanings, Motives, Regrets, And Hopes
  2. A Difficult, Knotty, Potentially Thorny Conversation
  Testimonial: My Son
  Testimonial: Our Daughter
  3. The Terrifying Beauty Of A Diverse Church Or Denomination

  Part Two: The Topic
  4. The Affirming Position
  Testimonial: A Lesbian Christian
  5. The Traditional Position
  6. What Does The Bible Say?

  Part Three: The Way Forward
  7. What Options Does A Same-Sex Attracted Christian Have?
  8. We Can’t Just Sing Kumbaya Forever
  9. Welcoming But Not Affirming And Mutually Transforming
  Testimonial: Called To Stay
  Testimonial: Why We Left
  10. What Can We Do?

  Conclusion
  Acknowledgments
  Appendix A: A Process
  Appendix B: A Statement On Sexuality
  Discussion Guide
  Notes
  For Further Reading

  Additional Info
  Is your church wrestling with LGBT questions from membership to marriage? Travis Collins has been there. A pastor who has walked congregations through the complex issues surrounding gay Christians, he knows firsthand the confusion and hurt that often follow. He has also seen churches have these conversations with grace and understanding. In this practical resource, readers will gain insight into relevant biblical passages and hear from interpreters on both sides of the debate. They will consider the implications of their convictions for ministry practice, relationships, church policy, and more. They will hear testimonies from gay friends and family members about their experiences in the church. Collins calls readers to both grace and truth, with humility.What Does It Mean to Be Welcoming? considers how we might welcome everyone into the church while calling for all to be transformed.

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  Welcoming The Stranger

  $22.99

  Foreword By Leith Anderson
  1. The Immigration Dilemma
  2. “Aliens” Among You: Who Are Undocumented Immigrants?
  3. Nation Of Immigrants: A Historical Perspective On Immigration To The United States
  4. Immigrating The Legal Way: Our Immigration System Today
  5. Thinking Biblically About Immigration
  6. Concerns About Immigration
  7. The Value Of Immigrants To The United States
  8. Immigration Policies And Politics
  9. Immigration And The Church Today
  10. A Christian Response To The Immigration Dilemma
  Acknowledgments
  Appendix 1: Discussion Questions
  Appendix 2: Evangelical Statement Of Principles For Immigration Reform
  Appendix 3: Ministries And Organizations Serving Refugees And Other Immigrants In The United States
  Appendix 4: Ministries And Organizations Addressing The Root Causes Of Immigration
  Appendix 5: Selected Resources For Learning More About The Immigration Issue
  Appendix 6: Tools For Political Advocacy
  Notes
  Index

  Additional Info
  Immigration is one of the most complicated issues of our time. Voices on all sides argue strongly for action and change. Christians find themselves torn between the desire to uphold laws and the call to minister to the vulnerable.In this book World Relief immigration experts Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang move beyond the rhetoric to offer a Christian response to immigration. They put a human face on the issue and tell stories of immigrants’ experiences in and out of the system. With careful historical understanding and thoughtful policy analysis, they debunk myths and misconceptions about immigration and show the limitations of the current immigration system. Ultimately they point toward immigration reform that is compassionate, sensible, and just as they offer concrete ways for you and your church to welcome and minister to your immigrant neighbors.This revised edition includes new material on refugees and updates in light of changes in political realities.

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  Disruptive Witness : Speaking Truth In A Distracted Age

  $18.99

  Introduction

  Part One: A Distracted, Secular Age
  1. The Barrier Of Endless Distraction
  2. The Barrier Of The Buffered Self
  3. Searching For Visions Of Fullness

  Part Two: Bearing A Disruptive Witness
  4. Disruptive Personal Habits
  5. Disruptive Church Practices
  6. Disruptive Cultural Participation
  Conclusion: Large And Startling Figures
  Notes

  Additional Info
  We live in a distracted, secular age.These two trends define life in Western society today. We are increasingly addicted to habits-and devices-that distract and “buffer” us from substantive reflection and deep engagement with the world. And we live in what Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor calls “a secular age”-an age in which all beliefs are equally viable and real transcendence is less and less plausible. Drawing on Taylor’s work, Alan Noble describes how these realities shape our thinking and affect our daily lives. Too often Christians have acquiesced to these trends, and the result has been a church that struggles to disrupt the ingrained patterns of people’s lives. But the gospel of Jesus is inherently disruptive: like a plow, it breaks up the hardened surface to expose the fertile earth below. In this book Noble lays out individual, ecclesial, and cultural practices that disrupt our society’s deep-rooted assumptions and point beyond them to the transcendent grace and beauty of Jesus.Disruptive Witness casts a new vision for the evangelical imagination, calling us away from abstraction and cliche to a more faithful embodiment of the gospel for our day.

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