Unbinding Your Soul

Unbinding Your Soul
Author: Martha Grace Reese
Publisher: Chalice Press
Total Pages: 178
Release: 2009-09-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0827238096

NEXT in the Unbinding the Gospel Series. With 40 day personal prayer journal. For small groups ready to invite... Unbinding Your Soul is the "unbinding" model for actual, invitational evangelism. Typical mainline churches get ready for the Unbinding Your Soul small group study with Unbinding the Gospel/Unbinding Your Heart "pre-evangelism." SOUL helps them invite unchurched friends or recent visitors to try an "experiment" (some churches call it a "test drive") of Christian faith and community. Many people who aren't connected with a church would love to try a no-obligation "experiment" of substantial spiritual discussion, prayer, and community. Unbinding Your Soul prepares church members to invite their friends into a four-week small group experience with short study chapters, an individual prayer journal, prayer partner activities, and group exercises. Unbinding Your Soul works for: Growing, healthy churches, Churches that have done an all-church saturation study with the Unbinding the Gospel Series, New church starts, New members' classes, and "On fire" groups in typical churches. Note: Two copies will be needed per small group participant. Participants pray for the person to receive the extra book. Groups double. The Unbinding the Gospel Series is in over 12,000 congregations across the theological spectrum. The Christian Century, Alban Institute Congregations, Evangelism Connections, 8 heads of denominations, Brian McLaren, George Hunter & Richard Peace have endorsed it enthusiastically. The Series arises out of the only major national study of evangelism in mainline churches, funded by the Lilly Endowment. From the Unbinding the Gospel Series.

Unbinding Christianity

Unbinding Christianity
Author: Jan G. Linn
Publisher: Universal-Publishers
Total Pages: 146
Release: 2020
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1627342923

Unbinding Christianity is a book that will be good news for some readers while stretching others in uncomfortable ways. It begins with the premise that traditional Christian teaching is focused on right beliefs while the life and teachings of Jesus was all about right living. The book represents a fresh voice for Christians who struggle to accept traditional beliefs by assuring them that Jesus himself said much more about right values than he did right beliefs. The goal of this book is to unbind Christianity from the wrappings of creeds, doctrines, dogma, and beliefs in order to make room for an understanding of what it means to be Christian defined by values that invites unity among Christians without the need for conformity of beliefs. One of the important by-products of a values-based Christianity is that it paves the way for Christians with different beliefs to find common ground with one another while also freeing them to build bridges of understanding with non-Christian. WORDS OF PRAISE If you have found it impossible to continue believing in some of the doctrines the church has taught to be essential and don't know if you can continue being a Christian, Jan Linn offers some much needed guidance. --Craig Watts Unbinding Christianity is a thought-provoking argument for expansion of Christianity's often employed litmus tests of inclusion and rejection. --Joshua Santana This book is a wake-up call to all of us who choose to follow Jesus, a challenge for us to rethink what it truly means to be Christian. --Heather Cargill

Unbinding Your Church

Unbinding Your Church
Author: Martha Grace Reese
Publisher: Chalice Press
Total Pages: 148
Release: 2008-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780827238060

Pastors are busy. This collection of fully integrated resources will help your church work and pray through the Unbinding the Gospel Series. Included are step-by-step planning tools as well as worship resources to allow you--the pastor--to spend time on prayer, teaching, and working directly with others in your church. The planning tools include calendars, checklists for church staff, weekly scripture tie-ins, sample church newsletter campaigns, diagrams, simple to elaborate E-vent planning suggestions, web site ideas, specific lesson plans, and much much more. Worship resources include sermons, prayers, and forms that have been placed on the Web for FREE with easy access and downloads. Change Habits, Not Just Minds. From the Unbinding the Gospel Series.

The Continuing Conversion of the Church

The Continuing Conversion of the Church
Author: Darrell L. Guder
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2000-03-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780802847034

Western society is now a very different, very difficult mission field. In such a situation, the mission of evangelism cannot succeed with an attitude of "business as usual." This volume builds a theology of evangelism that has its focus on the church itself. Darrell Guder shows that the church's missionary calling requires that the theology and practice of evangelism be fundamentally rethought and redirected, focused on the continuing evangelization of the church so that it can carry out its witness faithfully in today's world. In Part 1 Guder explores how, under the influence of reductionism and individualism, the church has historically moved away from a biblical theology of evangelism. Part 2 presents contemporary challenges to the church's evangelical ministry, especially those challenges that illustrate the church's need for continuing conversion. Part 3 discusses what a truly missional theology would mean for the church, including sweeping changes in its institutional structures and practices. Written for teachers, church leaders, and students of evangelism, this volume is vital reading for everyone engaged in mission work.

Evangelism for Normal People

Evangelism for Normal People
Author: John Bowen
Publisher: Augsburg Fortress
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2002-07-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781451411133

Noted author and teacher John Bowen takes a unique look at what it means to witness to one's faith. Evangelism is something that all Christians can do as a "normal" part of being a follower of Jesus. Witty, wise, and biblically grounded, the book challenges in a gentle way. Includes study questions for congregational use.

More Ready Than You Realize

More Ready Than You Realize
Author: Brian D. McLaren
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2009-08-30
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310859581

WARNING: This is not just another book on evangelism. It's a simple idea of evangelism through friendship first, and the opportunities to share your faith that follow. It will bring friendships you already have to a new levels, and create opportunities for new, authentic friendships with those you will eventually meet. OUT: Evangelism as sales pitch, as conquest, as warfare, as ultimatum, as threat, as proof, as argument, as entertainment, as show, as monologue, as something you have to do. IN: Disciple-making as conversation, as friendship, as influence, as invitation, as companionship, as challenge, as opportunity, as conversation, as dance, as something you get to do. You're more ready for this than you realize, and so are your friends!

Making Friends for Christ

Making Friends for Christ
Author: Wayne McDill
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
Total Pages: 168
Release: 2013-04-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781484041611

Making Friends for Christ is a guide for learning how to be a real friend. It offers practical, everyday ideas for touching the people God has already put into your life. You will learn how to be a good listener, overcome common barriers, and invest in relationships. You can turn your home into a place of ministry and effectively tell how Christ has changed your life. You can learn to pray in faith for your friends and family and join with other believers for support and encouragement.

Preaching Better

Preaching Better
Author: Kenneth Untener
Publisher: Paulist Press
Total Pages: 138
Release: 2014-05-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781616434601

A compendium of wise and useful advice about preaching: what works and what doesn't.

Abraham's Silence

Abraham's Silence
Author: J. Richard Middleton
Publisher: Baker Academic
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2021-11-16
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1493430882

It is traditional to think we should praise Abraham for his willingness to sacrifice his son as proof of his love for God. But have we misread the point of the story? Is it possible that a careful reading of Genesis 22 could reveal that God was not pleased with Abraham's silent obedience? Widely respected biblical theologian, creative thinker, and public speaker J. Richard Middleton suggests we have misread and misapplied the story of the binding of Isaac and shows that God desires something other than silent obedience in difficult times. Middleton focuses on the ethical and theological problem of Abraham's silence and explores the rich biblical tradition of vigorous prayer, including the lament psalms, as a resource for faith. Middleton also examines the book of Job in terms of God validating Job's lament as "right speech," showing how the vocal Job provides an alternative to the silent Abraham. This book provides a fresh interpretation of Genesis 22 and reinforces the church's resurgent interest in lament as an appropriate response to God.