Believing In Jesus

"In order to understand why the 'outside' of the Church—the visible, organized part—is important we have to ask the question: What is the Church for? The Church's purpose is to do in flesh and blood what Jesus did and does."—from Chapter 14 Leonard Foley wrote Believing in Jesus to help "born Catholics" come to a deeper understanding of the beliefs and practices they have held all their lives and to help those who approach the Catholic Church for the first time. He wrote, "I hope this book will help some scared and scarred people and challenge others." Now in its fifth revised edition, the best-selling Believing in Jesus captures the Christian's continuing journey of faith, ever new, ever alive—yet always founded on God's steadfast love for us. In 27 chapters written in a lively style, Foley covers the complete spectrum of Catholic faith, leading the reader from early Old Testament times through a world "starting over" in Jesus to the endtime, when Jesus will come again and we will share fully in his life. This edition is current with Church documents and events, including cross-references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Discussion questions and an updated and expanded resources section will prove invaluable to individuals and groups wanting to explore further the faith they profess.

Are you truly willing to risk everything? In Believing Jesus, Bible teacher and author Lisa Harper retraces the steps of the apostles in the book of Acts, while throwing in a few of her own crazy adventures along the way. The disciples didn’t have much of a road map after Jesus ascended to heaven, but God’s grace and spirit filled in the gaps as they moved forward. It required their willingness to risk everything to establish a new community that would change the future world. As a regular speaker on the Women of Faith® tour, Lisa has earned a reputation as a true theological scholar and hilarious storyteller—not necessarily in that order! Best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado calls Lisa one of the “best Bible tour guides around.” Believing Jesus will highlight both of Lisa’s strengths as she tackles every chapter of the Book of Acts with biblical wisdom and modern wit. Lisa keeps it real, telling stories on herself and pointing readers back to Jesus, the only one who can truly lead.

What does it mean to believe Jesus? Not just believe in Jesus, but actually believe what He said--and shape our lives around that truth? How would that affect the choices we make? The way we see the world? The way we conduct ourselves with other Christians? In this eight-session video Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Lisa Harper answers these questions by looking at the lives of the believers in Acts and how Jesus' command to spread the gospel forever shaped their lives. You will hear how Peter turned tables on his Benedict-Arnold behavior and became a church-building saint when the power of the Holy Spirit came over him. How the first believers were so gifted at giving they made Santa look bush league. How it cost Stephen and other early believers their very lives to follow Christ. And how Paul's case proves God's grace can change the worst of sinners, making us willing to have our lives interrupted by God and boldly share the gospel to the world. Today, we are faced with the same decisions the early church faced. Will we, like them, truly believe the words of Jesus and allow them to transform every part of our lives? Sessions include: The Declarations that Define Us Earth, Wind, and Celestial Fire Checkered Pasts Can Make Incredible Preachers What's Mine Is Yours Loving More People, More The Need to Be ReGospeled Turning Your World Upside Down Bearing the Chain Because Designed for use with the Believing Jesus Video Study (sold separately).

From the author of the bestselling novel The Shack and the New York Times bestsellers Cross Roads and Eve comes a compelling, conversational exploration of twenty-eight assumptions about God—assumptions that just might be keeping us from experiencing His unconditional, all-encompassing love. In his wildly popular novels, Wm. Paul Young portrayed the Triune God in ways that challenged our thinking—sometimes upending long-held beliefs, but always centered in the eternal, all-encompassing nature of God’s love. Now, in Wm. Paul Young’s first nonfiction book, he invites us to revisit our assumptions about God—this time using the Bible, theological discussion, and personal anecdotes. Paul encourages us to think through beliefs we’ve presumed to be true and consider whether some might actually be false. Expounding on the compassion fans felt from the “Papa” portrayed in The Shack—now a major film starring Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer—Paul encourages you to think anew about important issues including sin, religion, hell, politics, identity, creation, human rights, and helping us discover God’s deep and abiding love.

Looks at the Gospels and examines what Christ requires of his followers in a redemptive-historical context. New and seasoned believers will see God's loving plan for their ultimate satisfaction. Now in paperback.

Must you believe something to be saved? Does the kingdom of God include non-Christians? Is hell for real and forever? These are big questions. Hard questions. Questions that divide Christians along conservative and liberal lines. Conservatives love their beliefs and liberals believe in their love. Each pushes the other to opposite extremes. Fundamentalists imply that it doesn’t matter how we live as long as we believe in Jesus, while some Emergent Christians respond that it doesn’t matter what we believe as long as we live like him. Theologian Michael Wittmer calls both sides out of bounds and crafts a third way that retains the insights of each. He examines ten key questions that confront contemporary Christians and shows why both right belief and right practice are necessary for authentic Christianity. Here is an urgent reminder that best practices can only arise from true beliefs. Genuine Christians never stop serving because they never stop loving, and they never stop loving because they never stop believing.

He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live (Psalm 107:7, The Message). Theres no place like home! Philippians 4:19 (The Amplified Bible) tells us, My God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. This liberal supply includes your beautiful, debt-free house. It is important to God that you live in a place where you can rest, refresh and receive. In Isaiah 32:18 (New International Version), God says, My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Consider the Garden of Eden! It was the original intent for our earthly dwellings. Begin your journey with this series by Pastor George Pearsons and Gloria Copeland as they teach you How to Believe God for a House. Dig into the Word and start feeding your faith today! Includes Bonus Teaching: How to Believe God for a House: Our Personal Journey with Pastors George and Terri Pearsons; Also includes a chapter excerpt from Gloria Copeland's "God's Will Is Prosperity" and "Faith Scriptures for Your New Home."