Missional Transformation: God’S Spirit at Work

Missional Transformation: God’S Spirit at Work
Author: Mark G. Press
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Total Pages: 345
Release: 2013-01-04
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1477295828

Missiologists and mission-oriented folks have been invited to reflect on topics that touch on the transforming power of Gods Spirit. This series of essays has been produced as one way of celebrating the fascinating, missional career of Dr. Eugene Bunkowske, long-time missionary to Africa, long-time linguist and Bible translator, long-time seminary professor, life-long sharer of the Good News of Jesus the Christ. This volume offers plenty of meat to engage the serious student of missions but also a number of gems that will enlighten any Christian with a commitment to outreach or an interest in the churchs mission. Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod readers will be especially interested in some of the pieces, though any student of Sacred Scripture will benefit from many of the essays.

Saturate

Saturate
Author: Jeff Vanderstelt
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2015-04-16
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433546027

What does living for Jesus look like in the everyday stuff of life? Many Christians have unwittingly embraced the idea that “church” is a once-a-week event rather than a community of Spirit-empowered people; that “ministry” is what pastors do on Sundays rather than the 24/7 calling of all believers; and that “discipleship” is a program rather than the normal state of every follower of Jesus. Drawing on his experience as a pastor and church planter, Jeff Vanderstelt wants us to see that there’s more—much more—to the Christian life than sitting in a pew once a week. God has called his people to something bigger: a view of the Christian life that encompasses the ordinary, the extraordinary, and everything in between. Packed full of biblical teaching, compelling stories, and real-world advice, this book will remind you that Jesus is filling the world with his presence through the everyday lives of everyday people... People just like you.

Grace Defined and Defended

Grace Defined and Defended
Author: Kevin DeYoung
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 85
Release: 2019-04-17
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433564424

Christians love to celebrate grace, but often talk about it in vague generalities. But such an important biblical concept ought to be clearly defined so it can be consistently defended. In this book, best-selling author Kevin DeYoung points modern readers back to an old document originally written to do just that. Warmly pastoral and broadly accessible, this book introduces readers to the Canons of Dort, a 17th-century work summarizing the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Widely regarded as a key pillar of the Reformed tradition, the Canons of Dort stand as a faithful witness to God's grace—offering a depth of understanding that the church still needs today. In three concise sections—covering history, theology, and practical application—DeYoung explores what led to the Canons and why they were needed, the five important doctrines that they explain, and Dort's place in the Reformed tradition today.

Missional Church

Missional Church
Author: Lois Barrett
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 292
Release: 1998-02-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780802843500

What would a theology of the Church look like that took seriously the fact that North America is now itself a mission field? This question lies at the foundation of this volume written by an ecumenical team of six noted missiologists—Lois Barrett, Inagrace T. Dietterich, Darrell L. Guder, George R. Hunsberger, Alan J. Roxburgh, and Craig Van Gelder. The result of a three-year research project undertaken by The Gospel and Our Culture Network, this book issues a firm challenge for the church to recover its missional call right here in North America, while also offering the tools to help it do so. The authors examine North America s secular culture and the church s loss of dominance in today s society. They then present a biblically based theology that takes seriously the church s missional vocation and draw out the consequences of this theology for the structure and institutions of the church.

Gospel Fluency

Gospel Fluency
Author: Jeff Vanderstelt
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 206
Release: 2017-02-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 143354606X

flu·en·cy / noun :the ability to speak a language easily and effectively Even if they want to, many Christians find it hard to talk to others about Jesus. Is it possible this difficulty is because we're trying to speak a language we haven't actually spent time practicing? To become fluent in a new language, you must immerse yourself in it until you actually start to think about life through it. Becoming fluent in the gospel happens the same way—after believing it, we have to intentionally rehearse it (to ourselves and to others) and immerse ourselves in its truths. Only then will we start to see how everything in our lives, from the mundane to the magnificent, is transformed by the hope of the gospel.

Think

Think
Author: John Piper
Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press
Total Pages: 170
Release: 2013-04-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1844749622

This is a book to help Christians to think about thinking. Focusing on the life of the mind helps us to know God better, love him more, and care for the world. Along with an emphasis on emotions and the experience of God, we also need to practise careful thinking about God. Piper contends that 'thinking is indispensable on the path to passion for God'. So how are we to maintain a healthy balance of mind and heart, thinking and feeling? Piper urges us to think for the glory of God. He demonstrates from Scripture that glorifying God with our minds and hearts is not either-or, but both-and. Thinking carefully about God fuels passion and affections for God. Likewise, Christ-exalting emotion leads to disciplined thinking. Readers will be reminded that 'the mind serves to know the truth that fuels the fires of the heart'.

Sacred Rhythms

Sacred Rhythms
Author: Ruth Haley Barton
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2009-12-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0830878297

Picking up on the monastic tradition of creating a "rule of life" that allows for regular space for the practice of spiritual disciplines, Ruth Haley Barton takes you more deeply into understanding seven key spiritual disciplines along with practical ideas for weaving them into everyday life.

Transforming Presence

Transforming Presence
Author: Daniel Henderson
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2018-06-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0802496555

Who is the Holy Spirit anyway? We sing songs about Him. We’ve seen His name in the Bible. And most of us know He’s a part of the Trinity, but misunderstandings, confusion, and contention abound. And it’s keeping us from the abundant, satisfying life God has for us. The solution? We need a biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit. Transforming Presence walks you through ten vital practices that will help you have a new experience of the Holy Spirit. You’ll learn how our relationship with the Holy Spirit changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament, what common misconceptions of the Holy Spirit are, and how to think, speak, (and sing) rightly about Him. It can be hard to discern what’s right and wrong in a world of gray scales, differing preferences, and emotional highs, but when we start with the Bible, all the secondary things fall into place. Discover the transformational, personal, and joyful relationship that comes from meeting the Holy Spirit on His own terms.

Missional Spirituality

Missional Spirituality
Author: Roger Helland
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2012-01-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0830869611

If all of the earth is God's domain, why are Christians so terribly provincial? We rarely leave our church buildings, and our spirituality rarely takes us beyond ourselves. Veteran church leaders Roger Helland and Leonard Hjalmarson observe that Jesus begins his mission in the temple, where he wows the religious elite and chides his parents by saying, "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But Jesus doesn't stay in the temple; indeed, in Christ the temple of the Lord is on the move--even to the ends of the earth. In this book the authors helpfully reconnect spirituality and mission, showing you how the spiritual life, when lived properly, follows a similar progression: we "come home" to Christ, loving him from our heart and soul and mind and strength. And then we set forth to love our neighbors as ourself. Discover how through this process you can reclaim the whole of God's kingdom for his glory and the fulfillment of your heart's longing.

What Is the Mission of the Church?

What Is the Mission of the Church?
Author: Kevin DeYoung
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2011-09-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 143352693X

Social justice and mission are hot topics today: there's a wonderful resurgence of motivated Christians passionate about spreading the gospel and caring for the needs of others. But in our zeal to get sharing and serving, many are unclear on gospel and mission. Yes, we are called to spend ourselves for the sake of others, but what is the church's unique priority as it engages the world? DeYoung and Gilbert write to help Christians "articulate and live out their views on the mission of the church in ways that are theologically faithful, exegetically careful, and personally sustainable." Looking at the Bible's teaching on evangelism, social justice, and shalom, they explore the what, why, and how of the church's mission. From defining "mission", to examining key passages on social justice and their application, to setting our efforts in the context of God's rule, DeYoung and Gilbert bring a wise, studied perspective to the missional conversation. Readers in all spheres of ministry will grow in their understanding of the mission of the church and gain a renewed sense of urgency for Jesus' call to preach the Word and make disciples.