Connecting In Christ

"In an isolated and disconnected world, the Church is different. Diverse communities are built under the umbrella of the Gospel, where God draws people into relationship with Him and one another. God designed His people to live in community, as this book will show. Using biblical examples of community (such as the tribes of Israel and Jesus' disciples), readers will learn about Jesus' invitation to find community in Him. The book will provide practical steps to living in and connecting to a church community"--

Evangelism is broken people bringing the Good News of Christ to other broken people. But as a broken person yourself, you may feel inadequate to the task. Evangelism may feel burdensome or may become a source of frustration, fear, and guilt rather than joy. It's understandable if you feel this way, given all the misguided ideas about being a witness. Author Mark Wood can help you and other Christians discover the joy of being Christ's witnesses, offering insights into being a disciple of Jesus that will aid you in actively sharing the Good News. There's a world full of broken people-including your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members-counting on it. Book jacket.

We live in a multifaith society: an ever-growing, diverse cultural climate, where no religion is viewed as having a monopoly on truth. It is important when that Christ-followers not only share the Word of God but also listen and learn how to interact meaningfully with those of diverse perspectives as we engage in life’s most important conversations. Connecting Christ encourages believers to be not only better communicators and witnesses but also listeners to people of other worldviews and traditions—skills that are crucial in defending against today’s negative connotations and ineffective approaches associated with Christian evangelism. With extensive commentary from leaders of various walks of faith and life — from Judaism to Islam and Buddhism to atheism —theologian and author Dr. Paul Louis Metzger offers a spiritual compass to help navigate the intimidating yet critical dialogue of conveying our faith in Christ. Filled with practical guidance and insight into controversial topics, such as hell, fascism, and homosexuality, Connecting Christ reveals that there is a way of evangelizing that is neither disengaging monologue nor silent, lifestyle ministry but is, instead, an approach for evangelism and dialogue to go hand-in-hand. We must remove ourselves as the stumbling block to salvation for others and embrace a way to proclaim the uncommon, compassionate God revealed in Jesus Christ—the Savior this world is dying to know.

Fellowship. The word gets used a lot in church. But too often our understanding and practice of fellowship are shallow and stripped of the life-giving, life-transforming power God intended community to have. Jesus lived out and taught a deeper, more radical kind of fellowship—a way of interacting that makes others sit up and take notice. These six sessions will show you Jesus’ way of loving others “as I have loved you.”Experiencing Christ Together helps your group explore the five biblical purposes that make up a high-impact Christian life —fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and worship. Jesus perfectly lived out God’s purposes for his life, and he taught his followers how to do the same. As you walk in the footsteps of those first disciples listening to and watching Jesus through these studies, you and your group will be transformed. One small group leader put it this way: “The Experiencing Christ Together series has motivated me more than any other Bible study that I have ever been to. This Bible study gets to the heart of the matter—my character in Christ—and that has created action on my part.”

What does it mean to truly find rest? Jesus tells us that he "will give us rest." But what does that look like in a society marked by increasing rates of overcommitment and burnout? Too many of us have built unhealthy cycles of rest, striving and straining against God's intent for our lives. In Finding Soul Rest, Curtis Zackery provides a practical guide to finding the deep soul rest that Jesus promises. And it all centers around renewing and restoring our relationship with Christ. This thoughtful devotional on rest calls us to the intentional work of self-examination, helping us move toward a purposeful and sustainable life with Jesus. Through thoughtful reflections on Scripture and devotional questions, readers will rediscover their identity in rhythm with God.

In The Christ Connection noted apologist Varghese (There Is a God, co-written with atheist-turned-Christian philosopher, Antony Flew) offers a comprehensive and compelling formulation of the monumental discovery that Jesus of Nazareth is God and man, Messiah and Savior. The book explores: · The pre-Christian religions – from native peoples to Egyptians and ancient Judaism – pointing the way to the Messiah to come · Jesus as a phenomenon unique in human history · The Christ connection as a rendezvous of the religions · Fifteen grounds that lead us to affirm Jesus as God and man and Savior · The foundations of the doctrine of the Trinity in human experience.

Sacred Pathways reveals nine distinct spiritual temperaments--and their strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies--to help you improve your spiritual life and deepen your personal walk with God. It's time to strip away the frustration of a one-size-fits-all spirituality and discover a path of worship that frees you to be you. Experienced spiritual directors, pastors, and church leaders recognize that all of us engage with God differently, and it's about time we do too. In this updated and expanded edition of Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas details nine spiritual temperaments and--like the Enneagram and other tools do with personality--encourages you to investigate the ways you most naturally express yourself in your relationship with God. He encourages you to dig into the traits, strengths, and pitfalls in your devotional approach so you can eliminate the barriers that keep you locked into rigid methods of worship and praise. Plus, as you begin to identify and understand your own temperament, you'll soon learn about the temperaments that aren't necessarily "you" but that may help you understand the spiritual tendencies of friends, family, and others around you. Whatever temperament or blend of temperaments best describes you, rest assured it's not by accident. It's by the design of a Creator who knew what he was doing when he made you according to his own unique intentions. If your spiritual walk is not what you'd like it to be, you can change that, starting here. Sacred Pathways will show you the route you were made to travel, marked by growth and filled with the riches of a close walk with God. A Sacred Pathways video Bible study is also available for group or individual use, sold separately.