Practical Faith Active Love

"These short and elegant meditations on an often overlooked part of the New Testament by a first rate scholar priest offer much food for thought as we try to relate the Bible to our own often troubled world. Drawing on an extensive pastoral ministry as well as modern scholarship, Fr. Huffstetler succeeds in offering comfort, challenge and resources for the Christian life." -Mark D. Chapman, Professor of the History of Modern Theology, University of Oxford "Accessible, gracefully provocative and drenched in the reckless mercy of God, these meditations help us imagine what a true ambassador for Jesus Christ might say and do, how they might listen and how they might love." -Mark Oakley, Dean, St. John's College, University of Cambridge "...Brief...insightful meditations that exemplify the irresistible appeal of Scripture as believers and their communities deal with life's crises." -from the Foreword by Carl R. Holladay "Practical Faith and Active Love: Meditations on the Epistle of James is a 'game plan for life.'" -Joan Cronan, Athletic Director Emeritus, University of Tennessee

This book is a great introductory Bible study all by itself - for it brings out the Catholic teachings that are hidden in Sacred Scripture! A famous book - one which received recommendations from 14 bishops when first published and which went through at least 16 editions - this commentary is not a work for scholars; but rather a very practical book for the ordinary Catholic.

Christians are invited to practice the way of Jesus by engaging in four formative practices representing central themes of the Wesleyan way: humility, hospitality, healing, and holiness. These four practices function as counterpoints to four growing dangers based on fear in the contemporary church and in society: 1. Christian fundamentalism 2. Nationalism 3. Dispensationalism 4. Antinomianism. Each of the four practices is an antidote related to the quest for a particular virtue as well, namely, truth, joy, peace, and love in resistance to these dangerous movements. Each of the four chapters discusses the relationship of these practices to scripture, identifying a signature biblical text or story related to each. They introduce the reader to a spiritual mentor who can help them understand and embrace the practice more fully. They describe contemporary forms of Christianity that distort or compromise our received faith tradition, directing their attention to a contemporary issue in which these distortions figure prominently and in which a progressive Wesleyan perspective offers an alternative vision of Christian authenticity. Finally, the chapters offer guidance showing how readers can engage in these practices on a very practical level.

Love isn't a feeling. It's an activity. It's something you do. And participating in the act of love is the secret to understanding God's love--the secret to a life well lived. Building on the foundation of the New York Times bestseller, Love Does, the Love Does video study (DVD/digital video sold separately) is a case study in love done--a love that's practical, functional, active. Not a "love" that has all the right answers. Not a "love" with ulterior motives. Not a "love" that's all talk or paralyzed by doubt. But a radically alive love that's an intentional participation in God's world. How is that kind of love done? The how is what this study is about. Real growth happens when you learn how to tap into the empowering, energizing love of God. Using it fills you. Risking it secures you. Giving it satisfies you. Each of the five sessions in the Love Does video study explores a different aspect of God's active love through Bob Goff's teachings and stories: I'm With You - we've been given the invitation to love. Taking it seriously is where life meets faith. Free to Fail - exploring the nature of failure, how it works, and what God does with it. Audacious Love - understanding why receiving love is essential to giving love. Be Not Afraid - chasing out the anxieties that keep us from acting and living the life that Jesus has called us to. Follow Me - delving into how to bring our passions and plans together and bind them to God's plan. This study guide provides teaching notes, discussion questions, Bible study, between-session activities and a practical application called "Putting Love into Action," which gives you the opportunity to put the principles you have learned into real-life practice. It's time to step off the ledge and fall into God's immeasurable love. Designed for use with the Love Does Video Study (9781400206292), sold separately.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.

Put Your Faith Into Action Do you ever feel like something in your faith is missing, that going to church, studying the Bible, and tithing just aren't enough? There has to be more, right? What would it look like to truly follow Christ and not just believe in him? David Nowell asked the very same questions, and was led to minister to the "least of these," whom God loves deeply. In Dirty Faith, Nowell shares powerful stories of faith in action, and encourages us to move with him from the sidelines to the front line, to get our hands dirty helping the hopeless, the disenfranchised, and the poor. Loving as God loves is central to the gospel, whether that means taking in foster children, ministering to inmates at the local jail, or something else God has in mind just for you. Let this inspiring book help you find what's been missing in your faith. "David Nowell has challenged not only our view of the church's responsibility in light of the worldwide plague of violence on children--from poverty to homelessness to prostitution--he has challenged our view of Jesus Christ. Nowell's Jesus has dirt under his fingernails and calluses on his hands. The Word becoming flesh is not just incarnation, it is a holiness that is willing to be stained by the brokenness of a world that would abuse an innocent child. I want my staff to read this book. It will challenge them to do what is required of them, and then some." --Dr. Walter Crouch, President/CEO, Appalachia Service Project "Filled with unforgettable stories from the field, Nowell's writing will both break your heart and lift your vision. Dirty Faith is a must-read for those who want to put their faith into action by serving others." --Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, senior pastor, The Moody Church

Faith-Based ACT for Christian Clients balances empirical evidence with theology to give mental health professionals a deep understanding of both the "why" and "how" of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for Christians. The new edition includes updated discussions in each chapter, more than 20 new and updated exercises, and new chapters on couples and trauma. The book includes a detailed exploration of the overlap between ACT and the Christian faith, case studies, and techniques that are explicitly designed to be accessible to both non-Christian and Christian (including evangelical Christian) counselors and therapists. Chapters also present the established research on Buddhist-influenced mindfulness meditation and newer research on Christian-derived meditative and contemplative practices and lay a firm theological foundation through the use of engaging biblical stories and metaphors.