Everyday Faithfulness

What does the Christian life look like when life is unpredictable, hard, or just plain ordinary? We live in an instant-gratification world, where results are quickly measured and words like discipline and perseverance evoke thoughts of legalism or asceticism. But Everyday Faithfulness explores what daily perseverance in Christ looks like during various seasons when spiritual growth seems especially difficult. Working through the unique challenges that come with seasons of waiting, caretaking, suffering, worry, spiritual dryness, and more, this book delves into practical ways to build habits into everyday life that will aid in spiritual growth throughout a lifetime. Each chapter closes with a real-life example of a woman whose life of regular, everyday faithfulness will encourage readers to remain steadfast in theirs. Published in partnership with the Gospel Coalition.

God's presence among his people set him apart from ancient pagan gods. His presence on earth as God Incarnate split history in two. And today his presence is one of the most significant means of his goodness to us. Interweaving her story of faith and doubt amid suffering, Glenna traces the theme of God's presence from Genesis to Revelation and shows what it means for us in our own daily joys and struggles.

He was one of the Bible's greatest leaders. A man of action who took on the incredible task of rebuilding ancient Jerusalem. He was dedicated. Wise. A zealous man who saturated himself with prayer. In all of this he helped set the standard for godly leadership. And yet you probably know nothing about him. He was Nehemiah. Indeed, his Old Testament book reads like the memoirs of a pastoral leader and politician par excellence. In it Nehemiah tells how, with God's help and blessing, he went about rebuilding the city of Jerusalem and renewing her people. It is a spirited, first-person account of spiritual renewal. Yet Nehemiah can equally be read as a testimony to God's involvement with man. Using a Bible-study approach J. I. Packer looks at how Nehemiah led the people and how God led Nehemiah—all to ultimately build up His Kingdom. Through this book you will discover a model for revival in your own church. A Passion for Faithfulness should be read by church and business leaders for its in-depth look at Nehemiah's example in these particular arenas. But anyone who thirsts for God and a sense of His presence in their everyday responsibilities will also be inspired by this book. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom trying to raise godly children or an employee who longs for God to make Himself real in even the most mundane task, this book will be a trusted help and a welcome reminder of God's desire to be involved in every facet of your life.

Don’t miss The Long Goodbye: The Kara Tippetts Story on Netflix now, featuring Ann Voskamp, Ellie Holcomb, and Joanna Gaines! Kara Tippetts knows the ordinary days of mothering four kids, the joy of watching her children grow ... and the devestating reality of stage-four cancer. In The Hardest Peace, Kara doesn't offer answers for when living is hard, but she asks us to join her in moving away from fear and control and toward peace and grace. Most of all, she draws us back to the God who is with us, in the mundane and the suffering, and who shapes even our pain into beauty. Winner of the 2015 Christian Book Award® in the Inspiration category.

At the heart of our current moment lies a universal yearning, writes David Zahl, not to be happy or respected so much as enough--what religions call "righteous." To fill the void left by religion, we look to all sorts of everyday activities--from eating and parenting to dating and voting--for the identity, purpose, and meaning once provided on Sunday morning. In our striving, we are chasing a sense of enoughness. But it remains ever out of reach, and the effort and anxiety are burning us out. Seculosity takes a thoughtful yet entertaining tour of American "performancism" and its cousins, highlighting both their ingenuity and mercilessness, all while challenging the conventional narrative of religious decline. Zahl unmasks the competing pieties around which so much of our lives revolve, and he does so in a way that's at points playful, personal, and incisive. Ultimately he brings us to a fresh appreciation for the grace of God in all its countercultural wonder.

How do the words of past prophets continue to live today? How do they inform our faith formation and our actions as a church? Wrestle with these questions through daily scripture, reflections, and prayers for individual devotions or group study written by a wide variety of contributors. Study guide included.

Christians have always wrestled with how they should respond to the cultures around them. On the one hand, we recognize the goodness of God’s creation and his common grace upon all people. On the other hand, we recognize that people are sinful and that the world is hostile to God and to Christians. So what are we to do? As tensions rise between church and state, some of the loudest voices articulating answers to the question do not match what Scripture commands for the church today. Some answers threatens to undermine the pilgrim character of New Testament Christianity and the spiritual mission given to the church of making disciples. Others advocate for a more privatized faith in conflict with the more holistic emphasis of Scripture. In this easy-to-read book, Scott Aniol demonstrates that Scripture teaches contrary to both of these postures. Aniol shows that the New Testament portrays Christians as citizens of the common kingdoms of this earth, but they are ultimately exiles since they are more profoundly citizens of Christ’s redemptive kingdom. Understanding the biblical relationship between these two provides a very clear framework for preventing churches from losing their biblical mission while at the same time discipling Christians to actively engage in society around them. What the Bible prescribes for Christians in this present age is Christian faithfulness in both realms of God’s sovereign rule. Scott Aniol, PhD, is Executive Vice President and Editor-in-chief of G3 Ministries and Professor of Pastoral Theology at Grace Bible Theological Seminary.

Kara Tippetts’s story was not a story of disease, although she lost her battle with terminal cancer. It was not a story of saying goodbye, although she was intentional in her time with her husband and four children. Kara’s story was one of seeing God in the hard and in the good. It was one of finding grace in the everyday. And it was one of knowing “God with us” through fierce and beautiful friendship. In Just Show Up, Kara and her close friend, Jill Lynn Buteyn, write about what friendship looks like in the midst of changing life seasons, loads of laundry, and even cancer. Whether you are eager to be present to someone going through a difficult time or simply want inspiration for pursuing friends in a new way, this eloquent and practical book explores the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to just show up.