Twelve Unlikely Heroes Study Guide

Describes the lives of biblical heroes, including Enoch, Joseph, Esther, and Jonah.

Enoch, who never died . . . Samson, who killed an army with a donkey's jawbone . . . James, who grew up as the brother of the Messiah . . . These are fascinating people whose stories are woven through history and the Bible. They show us God at work in unexpected ways and numerous cultures. They each reveal another little piece of His great plan. But how do they affect my life? If John MacArthur's Twelve Unlikely Heroes presents intimate portraits of these individuals, this study guide is the bridge between those portraits and our daily lives. Commentary and poignant questions bring the points home with unflinching candor, urging us toward a deeper walk with the One who has written all our stories. REWIND—look again at important passages RETHINK—check all the angles REFLECT—consider how it affects you REACT—change your life

What kind of people does God use to accomplish His work? Far from the children’s tales depicted in picture books and nursery rhymes, the men and women highlighted in the Bible were unnervingly real. They faltered. They struggled. And at times, they fell short. Yet God worked through them in surprising and incredible ways to accomplish His purposes. Scripture does not hide their weaknesses, caricature their strengths, or spin their stories as a display of human nobility. Instead, it describes these heroes of the faith with unflinching honesty and delivers an unexpected ending: “God is not ashamed to be called their God” (Hebrews 11:16). In Twelve Unlikely Heroes, pastor and best-selling author John MacArthur uses his deep knowledge of the Bible and history to take us back to see these three-dimensional men and women in their own times and cultures. In doing so, it becomes clear how their dramatic stories apply to us today. People who might at first seem foreign quickly become familiar and unforgettable—particularly as they reveal the true Hero behind every witness, the power counterbalancing every weakness, “the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1).

Twelve Extraordinary Women offers a poignant and personal look into the lives of some of the Bible's most faithful women, teaching modern believers that true faith can leave a lasting legacy. These women were ordinary, common, and in some cases even ostracized and rejected by society, yet each was made extraordinary by her life-changing encounter with God. In Twelve Extraordinary Women, bestselling author and Bible teacher John MacArthur shows us that the God to whom they were so faithful is the same God who continues to mold and guide us today. As you meet these women in Scripture and get to know more about their lives and characters, they will challenge you, motivate you, encourage you, and inspire you with love for the God whom they trusted, served, and loved, teaching us that: Our personal struggles and temptations are the very same kinds of trials that all believers of all ages have confronted Even in the midst of our trouble, God remains eternally faithful Through God, anyone can become extraordinary From Eve to the Samaritan Woman, these twelve women each serve as reminders of both our frailty and our potential. Together, they all point us to Christ and His grace.

Two-time Governor General's Award nominee Teresa Toten is back with a compulsively readable new book for teens! When Adam meets Robyn at a support group for kids coping with obsessive-compulsive disorder, he is drawn to her almost before he can take a breath. He's determined to protect and defend her--to play Batman to her Robyn--whatever the cost. But when you're fourteen and the everyday problems of dealing with divorced parents and step-siblings are supplemented by the challenges of OCD, it's hard to imagine yourself falling in love. How can you have a "normal" relationship when your life is so fraught with problems? And that's not even to mention the small matter of those threatening letters Adam's mother has started to receive . . . Teresa Toten sets some tough and topical issues against the backdrop of a traditional whodunit in this engaging new novel that readers will find hard to put down.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN THE WAY FIRST-CENTURY BELIEVERS DEFINED IT? As followers of Jesus, we call ourselves “Christians,” but the fact is this word only appears three times in the Bible. In the New Testament, you’ll find a host of terms that identify the followers of Jesus, but there is one metaphor used more frequently than any other. Slave. That’s right. The first Christians, having been galvanized by the words of Jesus, gave up everything and called themselves slaves of Christ. Now you can learn why this word best described early Christ-followers—and you’ll see how an understanding of this truth changes the way to follow Him now. This discovery will unveil the riches of your salvation in a radically new way. Now you or your group can use this study guide to drill down through each major concept in Dr. John MacArthur’s remarkable book Slave: REWIND. Look again at the important passages. RETHINK. Check all the angles. REFLECT. Consider how it affects you. REACT. Change your life. The gospel is not simply an invitation to become Christ’s associate or friend—it is a mandate to become His slave. Endorsements: “John MacArthur expertly and lucidly explains that Jesus frees us from bondage into a royal slavery that we might be His possession. Those who would be His children must, paradoxically, be willing to be His slaves.” —DR. R.C. SPROUL “In this new book, John MacArthur presents a powerfully riveting and truly eye-opening look at our relationship to the Lord Jesus. Want to rise to a new level of trust and confidence in your Master? Then this is the book for you!” —JONI EARECKSON TADA, Joni and Friends International Disability Center “Dr. John MacArthur’s teaching on ‘slavery’ resonates in the deepest recesses of my ‘inner-man’. As an African-American pastor, I have been there. That is why the thought of someone writing about slavery as being a ‘God-send’ was the most ludicrous, unconscionable thing that I could have ever imagined . . . until I read this book. Now I see that becoming a slave is a biblical command, completely redefining the idea of freedom in Christ. I don’t want to simply be a ‘follower’ or even just a ‘servant’ . . . but a ‘slave’.” —THE REV. DR. DALLAS H. WILSON, JR., Vicar, St. John’s Episcopal Chapel, Charleston, South Carolina

A first-time mother, a prostitute, an introverted young woman, sisters with opposite personalities. Who were these women? Ordinary women for sure, but used by God in ways they never could have imagined . . . made extraordinary because of their life-changing faith in God. Based on the book by pastor and best-selling author John MacArthur, this workbook brings you face-to-face with twelve women whom God chose to bring His message of redemption to the world. In examining the lives of these women, you will discover their struggles and doubts, their fears and failures, their faith and commitment. you will learn how God used these ordinary women in extraordinary ways. And, through their stories, you will discover how God can impact the world through you! Perfect for group or individual study, this workbook includes: Daily Bible readings Engaging and thought-provoking questions and journaling Fascinating and helpful applications for your daily life "Adding to your Scriptural Vocabulary and Understanding" sections Instructions for facilitating your own small group study

There is no user-friendly, seeker-sensitive Gospel. There is only the truth. Let John MacArthur personally guide you deeper into the biblical truths of Hard to Believe?truths that triumph over the world's false view of Christianity. In this workbook, pastor, teacher, and best-selling author John MacArthur takes you step by step through each main idea of his insightful and sometimes shocking new book, Hard to Believe. These interactive lessons reaffirm that watered-down Christianity is really no Christianity at all, and that true faith must be defended in a cynical yet tolerant world regardless of the cost. Jesus instructs would-be Christians to deny themselves, take up their crosses daily, and follow Him. It is a tremendous journey filled with pain and sacrifice, but one that ultimately leads to a joy beyond measure?because the reward is eternal life. The Hard to Believe Workbook includes a six-part study guide for every chapter plus special features, including key quotations from the book; daily prayers, Bible readings, and study questions; notes and answers for discussion leaders; and much more. Short of having Pastor MacArthur in your living room or Bible study class, the Hard to Believe Workbook is the best way possible to fully experience his life-changing insights into the high cost and infinite value of following Jesus.