Eighth Day Discipleship

Richard H. Bliese draws on historic architecture of eight-sided churches to call attention to an important but often overlooked emphasis on the eighth day of creation. Early Christians were focused on God's new creation that began in Christ's resurrection on Sunday, the first day of the week. But these Christians understood resurrection as the continuation of God's creative and redemptive activity. So the first day of the week became the eighth day of creation, and therefore the day of resurrection work and time to join with Christ in transforming the world. Christian disciples do this work by living out their baptismal vocations, especially in their daily work and through their ethical economic choices. The author turns to Martin Luther and the Reformation to outline an evangelical spirituality that invested in people and their vocations as worker-priests. Daily life, work, and family were underscored as the place where discipleship came alive. Bliese describes this as an architectural "design" for faithful living. He further draws on parts of Luther's Small Catechism (Ten Commandments, Apostles' Creed, and Lord's Prayer) as keys to this evangelical design. Five additional architectural designs for eighth-day disciples are included. The final chapter describes how eighth-day disciples are called to live by faith in freedom and responsibility. Making disciples today needs to revolve around a gospel story that links one's personal faith with one's work and economic life. Such faith gives us ears to hear God's unfolding drama and eyes to see the needs of the neighbor. The book includes a study guide for personal reflection and group conversation.

This book offers you the opportunity to deepen your intimacy with the Lord by guiding you into scripture-focused prayer and inviting you to orient your life around the rich rhythms of the church calendar. Written by a variety of authors who find joy in the power of biblically-centered prayer, each daily reflection is an invitation to walk more fully in the new resurrection life of Christ, in this “eighth day” of new creation. Find new rest in the life and love of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as On the Eighth Day leads you into a deeper, daily practice of prayer.

During a 1980s Edmonton Oilers game, fans unveiled a banner claiming, “On the 8th day, God created Gretzky.” Intersections between religious belief and sporting participation are nothing new, where players, coaches, and fans are known to pray, cross themselves, and point to the heavens during a game. But what should be the relationship between sports and religious faith? On the Eighth Day introduces the theology of sport from a Catholic standpoint. It wrestles with sport’s universal appeal, its rich symbolism, and its spiritual and moral characteristics. Sport is a place where embodied games can be sacramental; where traditions of the past speak to contemporary peoples; and where truth and justice are demanded in a world affected by sin. The eighth day recalls the playful, re-creative work of God the Creator embodied in Christ’s resurrection. In this sense, this book marks out a “new day” in Christian attitudes toward modern sport and the continuing call to redeem sport in service of human flourishing. Comprehensive yet accessible, the book will engage thoughtful lay sports fans and academic students alike.

Discipleship is the buzzword today. Many believers are contemplating in a fresh way what it means to take the Great Commission seriously. Rediscovering Discipleship takes the guesswork out of Christian maturity. Based on insights gained from a decade of personally making disciples, author and pastor Robby Gallaty tackles the two hindrances that keep believers from getting involved in making disciples: ignorance and uncertainty. Since many believers have never been personally disciple, they have no model to guide them in discipling others. Their ignorance of the process fuels their uncertainty, which leaves them crippled from the start. With simple principles that are easy to apply, Rediscovering Discipleship provides readers with the tools to follow the Great Commission—to go and actually make disciples who multiply and make disciples. Gallaty begins with a brief historical overview of the discipleship ministries of influential theologians, preachers, and pastors from years past, and then identifies roadblocks that hinder believers from becoming disciples before offering a step-by-step process for readers to immediately get started on the path to effective disciple making.

For many Christians, the book of Leviticus is largely unknown and unread. Yet this book is crucial for understanding the rest of the Bible and the nature of the gospel. In this Bible Speaks Today volume, Derek Tidball shows how this vital part of Scripture is of foundational importance for our view of God and Christian living. Revealing the original message to the people of Israel in their day, he makes room for us to grasp its message to us in our day. Tidball demonstrates how Leviticus serves as a preliminary sketch of the masterpiece that was to be unveiled in Christ, testifying to a faith of grace, love, and gratitude—and one that sets God's people free to be holy. Part of the beloved Bible Speaks Today series, The Message of Exodus offers an insightful, readable exposition of the biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for those studying or preaching the Bible and anyone who wants to delve deeper into the text. This revised edition of a classic volume features lightly updated language, current NIV Scripture quotations, and a new interior design.

This unique book promises to be profoundly useful for all who take it seriously. Merely to talk about what we should be doing is surely one form of cheap grace. The book provides concrete steps for making discipleship a way of life, not just a way of talk. Ventures in Discipleship" is extraordinarily practical with its uncommon mix of doctrine and application, reflection and action, theological probing and challenge to commitment, basic discipleship and a broad range of specific disciplines. . . No group of believers can use this book with serious intent and fail to move closer to real kingdom living, to genuine following of Jesus Christ." - Howard A. Snyder

The CSB Disciple’s Study Bible guides an individual’s journey in following Jesus, by featuring discipleship themed study notes, as well as tools and resources that equip Christians to disciple others. This CSB study Bible includes the Foundations 260 Reading Plan, featuring 260 concise daily readings with commentary from Pastor Robby Gallaty and ample page space to engage the text and journal via the H.E.A.R journaling method (Highlight-Explain-Apply-Respond). With additional articles on discipleship from the team at Replicate Ministries, The Disciple’s Study Bible will help foster engagement and practical application of God’s Word in the life of a disciple on a daily basis. Features of this CSB Christian Bible include: an Introduction to The CSB Disciple’s Study Bible and Foundations 260 (F260) reading plan by Pastor Robby Gallaty, discipleship themed study notes, F260 Reading plan with commentary and H.E.A.R journaling space, discipleship articles from the team at Replicate Ministries, book introductions featuring timelines, outlines, and contribution to the Bible, center-column cross-references, topical subheadings, two-column text, concordance, smyth-sewn binding, presentation Section, and full-color maps. CSB Bibles by Holman feature the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-transforming message and to share it with others.

Help your church thrive in a post-everything world. The world is a very different place from what it was just a few years ago. Today’s post-everything world is arguably more divisive, political, indifferent, and impatient than ever. While many believe that the best course of action is to find a way back to how things used to be, is that actually the best way forward? Given the many ways that our world has changed, it’s time for Christian leadership strategies to change, and for churches to approach making disciples, evangelism, and preaching differently than yesterday. The Discipleship Opportunity is a powerful tool for church leaders seeking to navigate the challenges of our rapidly evolving, post-pandemic, post-Christian, and post-everything world. In this helpful resource, Daniel Im equips readers with practical ways to: reach those who are spiritually asleep in your church and community, disciple your church to know Jesus deeply, and preach differently in today’s post-everything world. Discern your church’s path forward by learning how to diagnose which shifts to make. Learn disciple-making principles that are as straightforward as they are timely. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting out, don’t miss this opportunity to emerge as a stronger, healthier, and more evangelistic church.