Enhancing Christian Life

2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist - Science and Technology No one is really Christian on their own. But often the religious life is seen as individual, private, and internal—resulting in a truncated, consumeristic faith. And what if that kind of individualistic Christianity is built on a fundamental misunderstanding of human nature? According to psychologists Brad Strawn and Warren Brown, it's time to rethink the Christian life in light of current research on the human mind, particularly with a deeper understanding of the process called "extended cognition." Using insights from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, they argue in Enhancing Christian Life that persons must be understood as not only embodied and embedded within particular contexts, but also extended beyond the body to encompass aspects of the physical and social world. Embracing a vision of the Christian life as extended into interactions with a local network of believers, they help us discover a fuller, more effective way to be Christian. After exploring the psychological dynamics of extended cognition, including how the mind is "supersized" by the incorporation of physical tools and social networks, Strawn and Brown consider implications for spiritual practices, congregational life, and religious language and traditions, which they describe as mental "wikis." The formation of robust Christian life, they show, is a process that takes place within a larger mesh of embodiment and mind—broader, deeper, and richer than we could ever be on our own.

LIVING A SUCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGINS WITH THE RIGHT KEYS TO BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION Every building that has been built has had some type of foundation. Structures that are built right on top of the ground will soon succumb to some type of storm or earth shaking quake. Buildings that have a weak foundation also will tumble to the ground as it gives way to stronger forces. The buildings that last the longest are ones with a foundation that was built correctly and had the right material that makes it strong. Pastor Dutton has given you SIX KEYS that will help you build a strong foundation. The material found in this book will teach you how to build a strong relationship with God with the power of the Holy Spirit. It will also give insights into the purpose of building a strong prayer life, reading your bible everyday to mature in the faith and sharing the gospel with those that live around you. Included in this book are lessons such as: Having a Strong Prayer Life The Power of the Word of God Serving in the Church is God's Plan Worship is a Lifestyle Every chapter is packed full of biblical insights that you will use in everyday life. These Six Keys will change your life and put you on a road that is destine to be successful. John and Torri Dutton are the Senior Pastors of Faith Alive Church in Elyria, OH. They co-founded this church with Pastor Jim and Nancy Neece, friends and co-church planters. John is a pastor, educator, preacher and author. His passion is to teach people the Word of God and to share with them practical tools and principles to enhance their Christian experience. John and Torri has one daughter, Katie who is married to her husband Kevin and helps minister the Gospel at Faith Alive Church.

GENUINE AND WHOLESOME SPIRITUALITY This is the goal of all Christian living. It sounds so simple, doesn't it? Perhaps the principle may be, but living by the principle is another matter altogether. In Balancing the Christian Life, Charles Ryrie reminds you that 'the Bible must be the guide and test for all our experiences in the spiritual life ...and if any experience fails to pass that test, it must be discarded.' He warns that 'an unbalanced application of the doctrines related to spirituality will result in an unbalanced Christian life.' Ryrie examines numerous key issues of spirituality, including The old and the new life Sanctification Using your gifts Routine faithfulness Wiles of the Devil Temptation Confessing and forgiving For more than 25 years, Balancing the Christian Life has been changing lives worldwide. Take time to read this classic study--and allow it to change yours.

This book explores the implications of recent insights in modern neuroscience that attribute mental capacities often ascribed to a disembodied soul instead to the functions of the brain and body in collaboration with social experience. It explores how this insight changes the traditional "care of souls," encouraging more attention to fostering spiritual growth through a social and communal focus.

In the 21st century and in a globalized world, how can an ethic of responsibility orient the powerful human striving for the enhancement of life? – This question is at the center of the program of theological humanism developed by the American ethicist William Schweiker. His ethic of responsibility takes the integrity of all human as well non-human life as a central criterion for the enhancement of life. The contributions of this collection dedicated to William Schweiker discuss and explore key elements of his work, in exemplary studies and from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. They examine the contours of this ethic, analyze the claims of a moral realism, and investigate the backgrounds of his theological humanism. [Verantwortung und Lebensverbesserung] Wie kann eine Ethik der Verantwortung im 21. Jahrhundert in einem globalen Horizont des Handelns das machtvolle menschliche Streben nach einer Verbesserung des Lebens orientieren? – Diese Frage steht im Mittelpunkt des Programms eines theologischen Humanismus des amerikanischen Ethikers William Schweiker. Die von ihm vertretene Verantwortungsethik beansprucht die Integrität des menschlichen wie nicht-menschlichen Lebens als Maßstab. Die Beiträge dieses William Schweiker gewidmeten Bandes diskutieren und befragen aus philosophischen, ethischen, historischen und systematischen Perspektiven anhand exemplarischer Studien zentrale Elemente dieses Entwurfs. Sie beleuchten die Konturen dieser Ethik, analysieren deren Grundlagen in einem moralischen Realismus und erforschen die Hintergründe eines theologischen Humanismus. Mit Beiträgen von Svend Andersen, Maria Antonaccio, Phil Blackwell, Kris Culp, Michael Fishbane, Clark Gilpin, David Hall, Markus Höfner, Kevin Jung, Nico Koopman, Robin Lovin, Jean-Luc Marion, Terence Martin, Charles Mathewes, Paul Mendes-Flohr, Elena Namli, Douglas Ottati, Willemien Otten, Kang Phee Seng, Heike Springhart, Per Sundmann, Günter Thomas, Darlene Fozard Weaver und Michael Welker.

Living as citizens of Christ's Kingdom... Follow Dr. Jeremiah through the book of 1 Corinthians in a chapter-by-chapter study that will help you understand what it meant to the people at the time it was written, and what it means to Christians today. The apostle Paul founded many churches in the Roman Empire, including one in the prominent city of Corinth. As the commercial capital of the region, its citizens lived decadent lifestyles. Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians to urge them to live as citizens of God's kingdom and separate themselves from the sinful practices of the world around them. Paul offers practical guidance on each issue they are facing, revealing to them—and us today—what it means to be a member of the Body of Christ and truly love one another as Jesus first loved us. Each of this study's twelve lessons is clearly organized to include: Getting Started: An opening question to introduce you to the lesson. Setting the Stage: A short reflection to explain the context of the study. Exploring the Text: The Scripture reading for the lesson with related study questions. Reviewing the Story: Questions to help you identify key points in the reading. Applying the Message: Questions to help you apply the key ideas to their lives. Reflecting on the Meaning: A closing reflection on the key teachings in the lesson. —ABOUT THE SERIES— The Jeremiah Bible Study Series captures Dr. David Jeremiah's forty-plus years of commitment in teaching the Word of God. In each study, you'll gain insights into the text, identify key stories and themes, and be challenged to apply the truths you uncover to your life. By the end of each study, you'll come away with a clear and memorable understanding of that Bible book. Each study also contains a Leader's Guide.

Children living in poverty have the same God-given potential as children in wealthier communities, but on average they achieve at significantly lower levels. Kids who both live in poverty and read below grade level by third grade are three times as likely not to graduate from high school as students who have never been poor. By the time children in low-income communities are in fourth grade, they're already three grade levels behind their peers in wealthier communities. More than half won't graduate from high school--and many that do graduate only perform at an eighth-grade level. Only one in ten will go on to graduate from college. These students have severely diminished opportunities for personal prosperity and professional success. It is clear that America's public schools do not provide a high quality public education for the sixteen million children growing up in poverty. Education expert Nicole Baker Fulgham explores what Christians can--and should--do to champion urgently needed reform and help improve our public schools. The book provides concrete action steps for working to ensure that all of God's children get the quality public education they deserve. It also features personal narratives from the author and other Christian public school teachers that demonstrate how the achievement gap in public education can be solved.

Life Is Never Mainly About Love and Marriage. So Learn to Live and Date for More. Many of you grew up assuming that marriage would meet all of your needs and unlock God's purposes for you. But God has far more planned for you than your future marriage. Not Yet Married is not about waiting quietly in the corner of the world for God to bring you "the one," but about inspiring you to live and date for more now. If you follow Jesus, the search for a spouse is no longer a pursuit of the perfect person, but a pursuit of more of God. He will likely write a love story for you different than the one you would write for yourself, but that's because he loves you and knows how to write a better story. This book was written to help you find real hope, happiness, and purpose in your not-yet-married life.