Letters To A Troubled Church

Your faith is challenged daily. We live in a society that has few absolutes, where “truth” is defined by personal philosophies. It’s really not so different from the culture of Corinth during the apostle Paul’s ministry. Believers were struggling with the “gray areas” of life, so Paul wrote letters—1 and 2 Corinthians—to remind them of what God intended as black-and-white. In Letters to a Troubled Church, Bible teacher Ray Stedman uses Paul’s epistles to guide us through difficult matters.

Love Letters to the Church is a clarion cry from a loving God to the body of Christ, to KNOW HIM, not just know about Him. He longs to draw us with cords of love into the intimate closeness that can come only from knowing His heart. A person could spend his whole life in church doing all the things he feels a Christian should do and never really come to know the God of his salvation. Yes, we can repeat the sinner's prayer, but "getting saved" and becoming a believer is not just about getting fire insurance to keep us out of hell. True Christianity is all about a personal relationship with the living God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. As you feel God's heartstrings drawing you to a closer and more passionate walk, may you also hear Him calling you to be part of His end-time army, and ultimately, His victorious church. You will be telling the Good News of Jesus, healing the sick, setting the captives free, and preparing a people for Christ's return. The time is too short; we must be ready. Occupy! Occupy! Occupy!

THIS COMPREHENSIVE, WIDELY USED TEXT by Michael Gorman presents a theologically focused, historically grounded interpretation of the apostle Paul and raises significant questions for engaging Paul today. After providing substantial background information on Paul's world, career, letters, gospel, spirituality, and theology, Gorman covers in full detail each of the thirteen Pauline epistles. Enhancing the text are questions for reflection and discussion at the end of each chapter as well as numerous photos, maps, and tables throughout. The new introduction in this second edition helpfully situates the book within current approaches to Paul. Gorman also brings the conversation up-to-date with major recent developments in Pauline studies and devotes greater attention to themes of participation, transformation, resurrection, justice, and peace.

Real Letters. Real People. Real Issues.God is raising up the simple, organic, house church movement. And this book gives you, for the first time, a real-life inside look at the controversies, struggles, victories, and personalities emerging from within this revolution. This book is a collection of real letters to real people facing real issues. These letters challenge, persuade, and encourage. They address theological issues and practical problems. They were sent to friends, acquaintances, strangers, radicals, and critics. This book will not just satisfy your curiosity about today's house church movement, but it will propel you to complete the task to which Jesus Christ has called you."Rad is one of those that has taken the time to... give us all a sort of house church FAQ that unzips and unpacks the current revolution and makes it more tangible than ever."Wolfgang SimsonAuthor of Houses that Change the World"Rad Zdero has labored to usher in a new/old paradigm in church life... a courageous, candid, and vulnerable publication of the letters that have chronicled his journey... an important work..."David Garrison, Ph.D.Author of Church Planting Movements"I am thrilled that Rad Zdero has released this series of insightful letters into book form... a timely, biblical, poignant yet gracious response to real-life concerns... Highly recommended!"Andrew JonesBlogger and founder, Boaz ProjectRAD ZDERO has a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has been involved in the house church and small group movement since 1985. Rad is the author of The Global House Church Movement. He is also the editor of Nexus: The World House Church Movement Reader and The Starfish Files house church magazine. Rad lives just outside Toronto, Canada.