The Secret Church

New York Times bestseller What is Jesus worth to you? It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily... But who do you know who lives like that? Do you? In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus. Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment -- a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.

New York Times bestseller New York Times bestselling author David Platt challenges us to unite around a gospel-centered vision in Radical Together. In Radical, David Platt’s plea for Christians to take back their faith from the American Dream resonated with readers everywhere. Now, he asks how a gospel-centered vision might reshape our priorities as the body of Christ? How might well-intentioned Christians actually prevent God’s people from accomplishing God’s purpose? And, how can we best unleash the people of God in the church to carry out the purpose of God in the world? Writing to everyone who desires to make an impact for God’s glory—whether you are an involved member, a leader, or a pastor—Dr. Platt shares six foundational ideas that fuel radical obedience among Christians in the church. With compelling Bible teaching and inspiring stories from around the world, he will help you apply the revolutionary claims and commands of Christ to your community of faith in fresh, practical ways.

This seven-week participant’s guide helps readers dig deeper and strengthen their faith as they learn how ideas from the five fatal worldviews can infect their faith. Readers will understand more about Secularism, Marxism, Islam, New Spirituality, and Postmodernism, and how their faith can be affected by the ideas these worldviews spread. Designed to be used alongside the book and DVD, this interactive guide gives readers tools to establish a strong, biblical worldview.

Who is depicted in that stained glass window? What is the significance of those geometric figures? Why are there fierce-looking beasts carved amidst all that beauty? Is there a deeper purpose behind the play of light and space in the nave? Why is there a pelican on the lectern and ornate foliage on the pillars? The largely illiterate medieval audience could read the symbols of churches and cathedrals and recognise the meanings and stories deliberately encoded into them. For worshippers these were places of religious education and an awe-inspiring feast that satisfied both the senses and the soul. Today, in an age less attuned to iconography, such places of worship are often seen merely as magnificent works of architecture. This book restores the lost spiritual meaning of these fine and fascinating buildings. The Secret Language of Churches & Cathedrals provides a three-part illustrated key by which modern visitors can understand the layout, fabric and decorative symbolism of Christian sacred structures - thereby bringing back to life their original atmosphere of awe and sanctity. Part One is an analysis of structural features, outside and in, from spires and domes to clerestories and brasses. Part Two is a theme-by-theme guide, which identifies significant figures, scenes, stories, animals, flowers, and the use of numbers, letters and patterns in paintings, carvings and sculpture. Part Three is a historical decoder, revealing the evolution of styles - from basilicas through Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic and beyond. For all those who seek to know more about Christian art and architecture, this richly illustrated book will instruct and delight in equal measure.

The churches of the British Isles offer an intriguing glimpse into craftsmanship, culture, and Christianity down the centuries. Some are celebrated landmarks while others are well-hidden, but every church harbors its own, fascinating story. More than 250 structures from around the Isles are highlighted in this unique guide, include the 6th-century Irish monastery of Clonmacnois in Offaly, the remote Romney Marsh churches, and St. Anthony's Chapel in Edinburgh. Some structures keep their secrets close—including the Rosslyn Chapel with its intricate, 15th-century carvings—while others are more overt, such as the chapel on Orkney Island decorated with elaborate frescos by Italian POWs. Beautifully presented with stunning color photographs as well as maps and an illustrated glossary, this is a lavish look at the best of the Isles’ churches.

For many of us, the attempt to live for God can leave us feeling burdened rather than free. Yet that's not the kind of life God intends for us to experience. What if he never meant for us to try so hard? What if overcoming sin doesn't rely on our own self-control? What if loving others isn't about saying and doing all the right things? What if suffering isn't designed to teach us lessons? What if we could feel closer to God without doing anything? In God's Best-Kept Secret, the founder of Grace Life International explodes our preconceived notions of living the Christian life, freeing us to stop just going through the motions and to experience true fulfillment. Illuminating commonly misunderstood Bible verses, Mark Maulding shows us that following God is not as complicated as we often make it out to be. And, in fact, the answer to our struggles has been hiding in plain sight all along.

DESCRIPTION" The centre of power for the Roman Catholic Church and all other church in general, the Vatican has been shrouded in mystery, legend, and secrecy for centuries. The Dark Secrets in The Churchtakes you behind the walls to reveal stories of politics and influence, lies and corruption with details on: - The verticans hidden ties to Nazi and the mafia- Thе Wоmеn оf Mоrmоndоm: " A Tеll- All Abоut thе Adаm- Gоd Doctrine Vеnеrаtеd bу thе Mоrmоn Church. аnd thеir liеѕ- The communion, the joy and anxieties that arose in that little child that want to take it for the first time thinking and been taught to be his God.- The initiation to idolatory- Pope pius Xllanti - semitic indifference to the plight of Europes jews and the holocaust- Thе Sесrеt Tеасhing оf thе Knightѕ Templar- Thе Sесrеt Cоdе - Thе Truth Bеhind thе Dа Vinci CоdеThis is fascinating, unflinching expose about the most secretive institution in the world. Ovеrаll, rеfоrmѕ are tаking place, but thеѕе аrе highlу dереndеnt on the Church lеаdеrѕ, thе biѕhорѕ whо trу to сhаngе mindѕеtѕ аnd systems."