Practical Essential Christianity

This concise yet thorough analysis of core Christian principles cuts through doctrinal debates to illuminate the essentials of faith. Much of Christendom functions on the basis of formulas, catechisms, recipes of spirituality, and widely varying lists of what is considered “acceptable doctrine.” This brief discussion simplifies the vast scope of Christian truth by identifying eight essential “principles” that can be embraced and practiced by all Christians and churches across the spectrum of belief. Devotional author Michael Phillips uses these universal truths as a springboard for investigating the fundamentals of the Christian faith for both beginner and theologian, simple yet life-changing and profound. He also includes a parallel exploration of several common pitfalls that have infiltrated the church through history as counterfeit indicators of spirituality.

Basic Christian Living is a survey course covering the fundamentals of the Christian life. The book's topics can be divided into three broad categories: basic doctrine for new believers (confession of sin, the nature of worship, assurance of salvation, and more), basic wisdom for living in community(relationships, conversation, the meaning of masculinity and femininity, etc.), and cultural criticism for beginners (authenticity, the "cool," and competition and ambition, for starters). Each bite-size chapter contains a worksheet of questions from relevant portions of the Bible, along with a full answer key. Whether you're a teacher wanting to offer a practical class on Christianity for students, a pastor needing a text for new believers, or a mature Christian reviewing the big picture, Basic Christian Living is a helpful, important, and encouraging introduction to the foundations of the gospel.

Essential Christianity is your invitation to spirited discussions with others as you explore the basics of faith. You'll learn what it means to really know Christ, the secret of confident living, and how to follow Jesus in a world that's anything but devoted to him.

What are the essentials to the Christian faith? How can you know and find God's will? What doctrines comprise the foundation to a Christian life? What should church leadership look like? What experiences mark a healthy Christian? These questions and more are answered in this book. If you are looking for one book that can cover the whole Christian life then this book is for you as you seek to Love a faithful faith that honors God while learning to experience his goodness daily.

Published originally in the 1970's by the late Walter Martin (1928-1989), "The Bible Answer Man." Essential Christianity is a readable explanation of the most important Christian teachings, with answers to such vital questions as: Is the Bible completely true? How can God be three in one? Is Christ really God and man? Who will be saved in the end?...plus dozens more crucially important questions about God, man and the universe. Essential Christianity will give you the answers you need in our confusing world of cults, half-truths, and religious confusion.

This book contains more than 200 original articles from leading authors and speakers on the whys and how-tos of Christian growth and the process of living the Christian life today.

Rufus M. Jones (1863-1948) was a Quaker historian, theologian, and Professor of Philosophy at Haverford College. He was a prolific writer, including such works as 'A Dynamic Faith, ' 'Studies in Mystical Religion, ' 'Spiritual Reformers of the 16th and 17th Centuries

Practical Religion, by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900), was first published in 1878 and is renowned as a theological and apologetic Christian classicesteemed for its clear, profound and penetrating narrative on the practice of genuine Christian living. Within its pages, Ryle masterfully unfolds practical biblical truths in a series of treatises, or papers as he calls them, each written to address a critical aspect of where personal faith in Christ and the practice of that faith in holy living unite and are essential for Christian growth and effectiveness as a witness for Christ in the world. Ryle exposes hypocrisy and nominalism in religion, or Churchianity as he calls it, which was as systemic in his day as it is today. His poignant narrative appeals to the Church as well as to individuals who profess to be Christiansa call to self-examination in all things, and a return to sound Biblical truths seriously and practically applied in every aspect of Christian life. Some of the subjects addressed include: Self-Inquiry, Reality, Prayer, Bible Reading, Zeal, Formality, The World, Sickness, Riches and Poverty, Eternity, among others. Ryles unique style penetrates the heart and challenges the mind of its readers and is not for the faint of heartbut is designed for those who genuinely and humbly seek a deeper abiding, surrendered life in Christ. No wonder his equally renowned contemporary English minister, Charles Spurgeon, called him an evangelical champion. One of the bravest and best of men. J. C. (John Charles) Ryle was the first Bishop of Liverpool, and one of the most influential evangelical ministers and writers of the nineteenth century. Ryle quotes from Practical Religion: Real religion is not mere show, and pretense, and skin-deep feeling, and temporary profession, and outside work. It is something inward, solid, substantial, intrinsic, living, lasting. A lack of reality is a striking feature of a vast amount of religion in the present day. The subject is of deep importance in every age. There has never been a time, since the Church of Christ was founded, when there has not been a vast amount of unreality and mere nominal religion among professing Christians. I am sure it is the case in the present day It is not the Christianity of Peter, and James, and John, and Paul. It is Churchianityand nothing more!