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This book demonstrates how two overlooked ministry models--base ecclesial communities of the Global South in the late 20th century and hush harbors of the US Deep South during antebellum times--offer proven strategies for the 21st-century church and contemporary social movements. These ministry models provide insight into the creation and sustenance of vital Christian community, particularly for those seeking indigenous culturally-rooted models, and show how to and show how to integrate vibrant Christ-centered faith and mission with world-changing social justice and political action. The book includes on-the-ground stories from multiethnic communities, a foreword by Robert Chao Romero, and an afterword by Willie James Jennings.

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you." So why are we still wracked with stress and anxiety? Why do we look at our world, our own churches and neighborhoods and see anything but peace? What causes this disconnect between what we read in Scripture and what we often experience in our own lives?Create in Me a Heart of Peace is a six-week Bible study that will help you- experience an inner calm-meets-strength that doesn't rattle with volatile circumstances or disappear with busyness- learn to make peace a daily posture and practice that shapes the rhythm of your days and tethers you to Jesus- discover a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life and pursue peace as your God-given purposeThe peace of Jesus is more powerful, practical, and applicable to our lives than any counterfeit version this world could offer. Join (in)courage and let God created in you a heart of peace!

Life is unfair. Bad things happen to good people. Not all dreams come true. We lose people. We fail people. And when we encounter the inevitable struggles of life, we may be tempted to ask God Why me? as we try to reconcile our pain with God's promises. But a far more helpful and life-enriching question for us to ask God is What are you trying to teach me in this? Tackling ten common struggles, such as isolation, fear, rejection, failure, insecurity, temptation, and more, Landra Young Hughes shows you how to have peace even when life doesn't make sense. Speaking with great empathy born from her own losses and years in ministry, Hughes doesn't suggest you "get over" your hard times. Instead, she helps you recognize that, while you will always live in a broken world this side of heaven, your pain has much to teach you about God and yourself. With her empathetic help, you'll discover how to grow through grief and thrive despite adversity.

Redeem your story, redefine your creativity, and make a life that truly mattersSometimes the greatest gift you can receive is for your life to fall apart. After years stuck in a painful cycle fueled by past abuse and ongoing addiction, actor, artist, and director Blaine Hogan finally hit rock bottom. No longer able to hide behind the veneer of success or find comfort in the shadows of compulsion, Blaine was forced to look at the story his life was telling and realize he'd lost the plot.Desperate to find hope, he gave up a budding career and took a major life detour where he discovered that facing his past was the key to unlocking a new kind of creativity. In Exit the Cave, Blaine shares the stories that shaped him while exploring how our relationship to our past defines how we imagine the future and live in the present. Through powerful personal revelations, he invites you to take up the practices of radical imagination and real creativity so you can tell a better story with your life.If you've ever been stuck, addicted, ashamed, discontented, or lost, take courage--a richer, more imaginative, and meaningful life is waiting for you just outside the cave."A tender but fierce story of survival, reckoning, and redemption. Blaine manages to somehow weave themes of acting, allegory, addiction, family, and faith into one beautifully written account of his own healing. This is the kind of story that will redeem you."--Laura McKowen, bestselling author of We Are the Luckiest"Blaine Hogan has inspired me for many years with his unique way of seeing the world. In this book you'll find a blast of inspiration and a trusty guide to help you exit the cave and enter a world that is real and beautiful and vital."--Brad Montague, New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Circles All Around Us, Becoming Better Grownups, and Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome

God will not waste your painWe have all heard of post traumatic stress, but few of us think about the possibility of post traumatic growth--the positive ways in which we can be transformed by our trauma. Yet this is precisely what can happen when we face our hurts, struggle through the rubble of our broken relationships, and unearth the ways God wants to use our trials to refine and mature us.With compassion born from personal experience and insights gathered from years of counseling others, licensed marriage and family therapist Debra Laaser helps you stop asking "Why me?" and start asking "Lord, what would you have me learn from this?" She offers tangible steps you can take to move beyond daily survival toward a future in which you can thrive.God does not waste our pain. With Laaser's expert guidance, you can experience positive life change not in spite of the hurt, loss, or betrayal you have undergone but because of it.

Imagine if, at the end of the year, despite your busy schedules and all the demands on your time and attention, you and your husband were more in sync, more connected, and more in love than ever before. Sounds amazing, right? That kind of marriage is what is waiting for you as you read through the 52 weekly devotions in Loving Your Husband Well. Each entry includes a specific theme, related Scripture, a powerful devotion, a prayer, thoughts for further reflection, and practical ideas, all designed to help you love, cherish, and serve the man who shares life's journey with you.Perfect when read alongside your husband's Loving Your Wife Well, this devotional will still transform your relationship even if you work through it on your own.

Imagine if, at the end of the year, despite your busy schedules and all the demands on your time and attention, you and your wife were more in sync, more connected, and more in love than ever before. Sounds amazing, right? That kind of marriage is what is waiting for you as you read through the 52 weekly devotions in Loving Your Wife Well. Each entry includes a specific theme, related Scripture, a powerful devotion, a prayer, thoughts for further reflection, and practical ideas, all designed to help you love, cherish, and serve the woman who shares life's journey with you.Perfect when read alongside your wife's Loving Your Husband Well, this devotional will still transform your relationship even if you work through it on your own.

Trusting God. It's such a cliché. Yet nothing means more to our heavenly Father than when we surrender our lives completely to him and choose to believe he has our best in mind. David modeled that kind of deliberate dependence: as a shepherd boy, as a man running for his life, as a king who made grave mistakes. In both triumph and failure, David looked to God rather than to himself.In Embracing Trust, Joanna Weaver, bestselling author of the runaway hit Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, shares personal stories, practical tips, and life-changing principles gleaned from Scripture. If you struggle with disappointment from the past, frustration with the present, or fear of the future, Joanna invites you to trust in the Lord with all your heart. Relinquishing control and putting your hope in a forever-faithful Father--that's the beautiful secret of unshakeable faith.Includes a 10-week companion Bible study.

A life of spiritual depth, amazement, and connection is within reach--today and every dayIn her quest to live a vibrant spiritual life, Karen Wright Marsh had a revelation: she didn't need to follow the perfect plan; she needed people she could follow. Grounded in the embodied spirituality of Christians who have lived it best, Wake Up to Wonder introduces twenty-two playful, simple practices that bring deeper meaning and purpose to everyday life.Covering topics such as physical health, prayer, activism, Scripture reading, and creativity, Wake Up to Wonder guides us toward living a centered, abundant life. Each chapter includes hands-on invitations such as writing prompts and "Try This," a collage of spiritual and personal experiments anyone can do."Get ready to meet a delightful assortment of fellow travelers who will guide you toward a Jesus-centered, hope-filled life. This is a book you will go back to many times!"--The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church; author of Love Is the Way and Crazy Christians"Marsh's beautiful new book introduces readers to some of the women and men who have guided her along life's difficult but also delightful paths, helping her--and now us--find a way to wonder and joy."--James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide"I was surprised by how much I needed the spiritual sustenance that Wake Up to Wonder offers. Marsh invites us to nurture our own wellsprings of wonder."--Barbara A. Holmes, core faculty at the Center for Action and Contemplation; author of Joy Unspeakable, Race and the Cosmos, and Crisis Contemplation"Marsh has helped to root my soul in a deeper awareness of meaning and purpose."--Jon Foreman, front man for Grammy Award-winning rock band Switchfoot"Marsh successfully combines the wisdom of spiritual masters with her own down-to-earth insights to provide an easily accessible toolkit for those who are seeking an antidote to the stress and chaos of the modern world."--Sister Monica Clare, CSJB, TikTok influencer

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.Jim ElliotJim Elliot arrived in Ecuador as a missionary at age twenty-five. Three years later, he would become a martyr at the hands of the Auca, the indigenous people to whom he was witnessing. He left behind a young wife, a baby daughter, and an incredible legacy of faith.Jim's volumes of personal journals, written over many years, reveal the inner struggles and victories that he experienced before his untimely death in 1956. In The Journals of Jim Elliot, you'll come to know this intelligent and articulate man who yearned to know God's plan for his life, detailed his fascinating missions work, and revealed his love for Elisabeth--first as a single man, then as a happily married one.Edited by his wife, Elisabeth, Jim's personal yet universal musings about faith, love, and work will show you how to apply the Bible to the situations you face every day. They will inspire you to lead a life of obedience, regardless of the cost, and delight you with an amazing story of courage and determination.

Leading evangelical scholars provide comprehensive commentary on every quotation, allusion, and echo of the Old Testament that appears in Matthew through Revelation.

This thoroughly updated and substantially revised edition of a standard reference tool offers today's students cutting-edge overviews of key theological topics.

This summer is a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romanceKelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it's not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a drama teacher is too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. Levi has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there's more to the quiet man than meets the eye. For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can't seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up--or lose the heart of the woman he longs for. Praise for the Prince Edward Island Shores series"A beautiful journey of forgiveness, love, loss, grief, and healing."--Urban Lit Magazine on Beyond the Tides"A love story that will linger sweetly in the memories of all those who read it."--Interviews & Reviews on Beyond the Tides"A transcendental experience."--Romance Junkies on The Last Way Home"[A] testament to the power of family."--Publishers Weekly on The Last Way Home

What is the relationship between the Synoptic Gospels? How can they be interpreted? Find out through the various approaches presented here from leading New Testament scholars.

"Victor Hamilton's commentary on Exodus contains his own unique, detailed, and constructive translation and interpretations of the texts of Exodus fueled by a wide-ranging dialogue with a wealth of previous scholarship on the book. For Hamilton, Exodus is about the full range of God's relationship with God's people, with the ultimate goal of God's dwelling in the midst of God's people, Israel. All along the way, Hamilton expertly guides readers into the ways in which the book of Exodus intersects with other Old Testament and New Testament texts, offering a rich feast of theologically fruitful insights."--Dennis Olson, Princeton Theological Seminary"An excellent commentary on the book of Exodus. It is clearly written as a useful reference for teachers, pastors, and students of the Bible. Hamilton provides his own translation and grammatical notes for each section, followed by an extended commentary that draws deeply on the best sources of a rich interpretive tradition. Evangelicals will find his references to related New Testament texts as well as contemporary comparisons to be helpful resources for teaching."--James K. Bruckner, North Park Theological Seminary (retired)"Hamilton offers a clear and concise commentary on the book of Exodus. Perhaps even more important than his interaction with the latest scholarship, he answers the questions that people actually ask when they read the text. While his treatment of alternative viewpoints is always fair, he offers his own mature reflection on each passage with clarity and wit. This is a very fine commentary."--Daniel I. Block, Wheaton College"Expansive in its coverage, expertly attentive to the Hebrew text, wise in its judgments, and written in a straightforward style, Hamilton's commentary makes sometimes-difficult material accessible and richly rewarding to a variety of readers. The English-speaking world enjoys several good commentaries on Exodus, and this one will rightly take its place among 'best in class.'"--V. Philips Long, Regent College"In an engaging style, Hamilton provides an interpretation of the text that is hermeneutically and theologically sound as well as nuanced. Though he has interacted with the best scholarship on Exodus and the ancient Near East, his explanation of the meaning of the text is consistently accessible. A valuable resource for students and pastors."--Peter T. Vogt, Bethel Seminary

"A heart-deep journey of courage, compassion, and connection."--Amanda Dykes, bestselling and award-winning author of All the Lost Places Beekeeper Beckett Walsh was living her dream, until her father's death sent her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family apiary--one who is looking to sell the property--and she cannot fathom why her father would put her in the position to lose everything they built together.When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she's never heard of, she's not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help, making Callie's financial situation rather . . . precarious. She's sure she has no right to someone else's farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she's always craved.With an entangled past behind them and an uncertain future ahead, Beckett and Callie must discover why they've been thrown together before all is lost."This novel speaks to each heart's yearning for home--but one that is more than just a place on a map. A beautiful and poignant must-read."--Jennifer L. Wright, author of If It Rains and The Girl from the Papers"He Should Have Told the Bees is the type of book that is destined to become an often-visited friend."--Kimberly Duffy, author of The Weight of Air and A Tapestry of Light

A stalker out to finish what he started. A US Marshal who's vowed to protect.And one woman determined to put the past in the past.Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it's hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people's lives, but because her stalker was never found, she's never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.US Marshal Vincent Covelli's job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs--whether it's his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina's past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn't live long enough to succeed.Praise for the Extreme Measures series"Grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go."--Booklist on Life Flight"Truly exceptional."--Interviews & Reviews on Crossfire"One of her best."--Booklist on Critical Threat"[A] taut mystery."--Publishers Weekly on Critical Threat

Leer la Biblia puede ser abrumador. La Biblia de estudio le ayuda en su jornada, a través de la Palabra, de manera que ¡relacione y memorice las Escrituras como nunca antes! UN ESTUDIO DE UN AÑO: Este estudio simplifica la Palabra y permite que descubra lo que significa para usted. Además, ofrece un enfoque interesante y motivador que le hará sumergirse en la Palabra de Dios de una manera directa, útil e impactante. Ha ayudado a más de 300.000 personas a acercarse al mensaje de Dios y a comprender lo que significa para ellas. CON DOS LIBROS HERMOSOS: Estos libros cubren el Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento. Cada uno de ellos le brinda un mapa en cuanto a qué leer y cómo desglosar Su Palabra con poderosas preguntas que le llevarán a una relación más profunda con Dios. ¡Estas coloridas páginas están llenas de citas inspiradoras que le mantendrán motivado y animado a lo largo del trayecto! ORIENTACIÓN DIARIA Y SEMANAL: Ambos libros, incluidos en el estudio, le ofrecen un marco claro para estudiar la Palabra de Dios cada semana, así como una guía diaria para ayudarle a simplificarla, crecer como cristiano y transformar su corazón y su mente en el proceso. PREGUNTAS QUE INSTAN A LA REFLEXIÓN: A medida que se sumerja en la Biblia, también tendrá preguntas que le ayudarán a aprender lo que significa para usted, de modo que pueda aplicarlo en su vida diaria, fortaleciendo así su relación con Dios, con los demás y consigo mismo. COLORIDAS Y ATRACTIVAS PÁGINAS: Para atraerle, entusiasmarle e impulsarle a avanzar en la jornada de un año de estudio de la Biblia y tener una conexión más profunda con Dios.

"Crisply written and utterly compelling"Power. Fear. Violence. These three idols of Christian nationalism are corrupting American Christianity.American Idolatry reveals the theological and spiritual costs of Christian nationalism for the American church. It also illuminates expressions of Christianity that confront Christian nationalism and offer a faithful path forward."American Idolatry is the book I would hand to anyone who is just beginning their journey of understanding white Christian nationalism or who is suspicious that it is even a problem. It moves beyond an academic analysis and reveals the deep and harmful human impact of white Christian nationalism."--Jemar Tisby, New York Times bestselling author of The Color of Compromise and How to Fight Racism; professor, Simmons College of Kentucky"What is Christian nationalism and why does it matter? Whitehead cuts through the confusion with this powerful and timely book. Crisply written and utterly compelling, American Idolatry will serve as an essential primer for anyone seeking to understand our current moment so we can chart a path toward a more just and compassionate future."--Kristin Kobes Du Mez, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation"This is a book whose time has come. With the precision of a scholar and the passion of a faithful Christian, Whitehead clarifies the difference between Christianity and Christian nationalism. By the end of this book, one discovers that it's not only Christian nationalists who betray the gospel but also those Christians who remain quiet in the face of it. Required reading for anyone who claims to be Christian in this time of Christian nationalist fervor."--Kelly Brown Douglas, former dean of Episcopal Divinity School, professor, Union Theological Seminary"We need this book. Now. With skill and grace, Whitehead explains the dangerous ideologies undergirding Christian nationalism, traces how it has infected the church, and provides practical guidance for those of us fighting it in our own communities. This is a book you should give to your friends, your family, and your pastor."--Beth Allison Barr, professor, Baylor University; author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth

Your Church Needs Help. What Now?What if the solution for the decline of today's church isn't more money, people, programs, innovation, or busyness?What if the answer is to stop and wait on God?When Church Stops Working shows how actively watching and listening for God can bring life out of death for churches in crisis today."This book seeks to address where we are by reminding us of who God is and who we are. It is a profoundly hope-giving book. The church needs teachers like this."--The Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury"This book will draw every leader and Jesus follower who wonders what could work today into a deeper, more faith-full relationship with the God who is always working."--Kara Powell, executive director, Fuller Youth Institute; chief of leadership formation, Fuller Seminary"Root and Bertrand make clear that we must put away our strategies and gimmicks and wait on the Lord all over again. I pray we all would follow this brilliantly antiprogrammatic counsel."--Jason Byassee, senior pastor, Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto; coauthor of Faithful and Fractured: Responding to the Clergy Health Crisis"We're all feeling the crisis of church decline and frantically trying to fix the problem. This groundbreaking book proposes that we've misdiagnosed the problem and that our supposed treatment is actually making things worse. It offers both a better diagnosis and a helpful, human way forward."--Mandy Smith, pastor and author of Unfettered: Imagining a Childlike Faith beyond the Baggage of Western Culture and The Vulnerable Pastor"Rejecting pithy slogans and slick approaches, this book challenges us to think first about God's place in our church and, in the process, rediscover just how beautiful her life might become once again."--Steve Bezner, senior pastor, Houston Northwest Church

Why Doubt Doesn't Have to End in DeconversionEven those who live by faith sometimes doubt. Those doubts don't have to mean the end of Christian identity.In Surprised by Doubt, Joshua Chatraw and Jack Carson help us step into Christianity's ancient structure, which can handle our contemporary doubts. Building on C. S. Lewis's metaphor of Christianity as a house, they invite us to move beyond the cramped attic of reactionary versions of the faith to explore the more spacious main floor of the house.With pastoral care and intellectual rigor, Chatraw and Carson show us how to rediscover the wisdom of the past and reimagine a faith that can thrive alongside doubt."Reading Surprised by Doubt is like sitting in a comfortable room and enjoying a thoughtful conversation with generous and stimulating hosts. You leave feeling challenged, more knowledgeable, heard, and understood. The coffee is on. Come. And be sure to invite your friends."--Karen Swallow Prior, author of The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis"For too long, doubt has wrongly been condemned, and the unfortunate reaction to the condemnation of doubt has been to celebrate it. Chatraw and Carson take a better approach, which is to address doubt, to seek to alleviate burdensome doubts, and to comfort in the midst of doubt. This is apologetics at its best, grounded not in the 'right ideas, ' but in the person of Jesus, who is himself the Word, the Way, the Truth and the Life. This book will help you trust him."--Michael Wear, president and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life; author of The Spirit of Our Politics

"This book will stimulate and sharpen the thinking of any pastor or teacher"This accessible introduction to hermeneutics helps students and pastors better interpret and understand God's Word."Stanley Porter has written numerous works covering just about every development in the study of advanced linguistics and hermeneutics. Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone digested and made accessible a number of the best of Porter's ideas for people who just want to teach and preach the Bible well? How about that! Porter has done it himself. This is no how-to manual filled with formulas to apply unthinkingly. But in under two hundred pages it ranges widely in the areas of use of language, flow of thought, literary genre, and biblical and systematic theology, complete with numerous examples from the underappreciated little letter to Philemon. Thanks for this gift, Stan, to the rest of us!"--Craig L. Blomberg, coauthor of A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis"This book is a must-read for pastors and teachers because it will help them think more clearly and rigorously about the hermeneutical process and its practice. Porter leads the reader deftly through the complexities of theoretical hermeneutical discussions in a readable manner, offering examples along the way. The valuable 'Study and Practice' sections at the end of each chapter provide guidance for applying the concepts discussed. This book will stimulate and sharpen the thinking of any pastor or teacher who takes the time to digest it, and a careful reading will pay huge dividends. As a bonus, one also gets insights into Porter's reading of key New Testament texts throughout the book. I wish I would have had this book during my time in pastoral ministry!"--David L. Mathewson, Denver SeminaryPraise for Stanley Porter"No one in recent decades has matched Stanley Porter in the breadth of his interests in linguistic analysis of the Greek New Testament. He is the most prolific scholar currently working in these fields."--D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (emeritus)"Porter is not only a fine scholar but also an excellent teacher and communicator."--Craig A. Evans, Houston University

"A decisive case that creation care is necessary, not optional, to faithful Christian practice"In Creation Care Discipleship, Steven Bouma-Prediger calls us to serve, protect, and restore our planet and demonstrates how we can put an "earthkeeping faith" into practice."Over many years, Bouma-Prediger has been a leading voice charting the way for earthkeeping as an essential Christian practice. Now in his latest wide-ranging book, we are treated to a distillation of the wisdom he has acquired along the way."--Norman Wirzba, Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke University"This is a book that the whole church in the US will want to welcome. Deeply informed by recent ecumenical discussions and creatively engaged with current justice issues, this well-written study is predicated on a lucidly rendered ethic of Christian virtue."--H. Paul Santmire, author of Brother Earth, The Travail of Nature: The Ambiguous Ecological Promise of Christian Theology, and EcoActivist Testament"Bouma-Prediger blends decades of reflection, teaching, and scholarship into a comprehensive study. Creation Care Discipleship presents a decisive case that creation care is necessary, not optional, to faithful Christian practice."--Debra Rienstra, Calvin University; author of Refugia Faith"I was twenty-one years old when I read my first Bouma-Prediger book. From that moment on, my life has been a sequence of events reverberating from reading this brilliant thinker. This book will have the same effect on a whole new generation. I can't commend it enough."--A. J. Swoboda, Bushnell University; author of After Doubt"This is a book for our times! A rich and practical guide for how we can better live out God's call to care for all creation."--Ben Lowe, executive director, A Rocha USA"Bouma-Prediger's skills as a teacher are on full display in this wonderful book that manages in a short space to introduce readers to the biblical, theological, ethical, and practical foundations for earthkeeping. Highly recommended!"--Jonathan Moo, Whitworth University

"A fresh and fascinating contribution to Pauline studies"Joshua Jipp places Paul's writings within the timeless pursuit of human flourishing, happiness, and the good life, reframing the task of Pauline theology as an encouragement to pursue a particular way of life."Entrepreneurs, bloggers, and talking heads of all sorts are all too happy to promote their visions of what makes for the 'good life, ' but few people would connect that topic with the apostle Paul. Joshua Jipp begs to differ. In this informed and wide-ranging study, Jipp puts Paul's Letters in conversation with both ancient philosophy and contemporary positive psychology. The result is an energetic invitation to read Paul's theology as nothing less than 'a way of life.'"--Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Princeton Theological Seminary (emerita)"Jipp's three-way conversation on the topic of human flourishing, involving ancient moral philosophers, contemporary exponents of positive psychology, and the apostle Paul, is brilliantly conceived and masterfully executed. Far from simply locating superficial similarities, Jipp vigorously interrogates the interlocutors, and in the process provides a rich and nuanced appreciation for Paul, not as a systematic theologian but as a pastor seeking to shape his readers into a distinctive way of life. A fresh and fascinating contribution to Pauline studies that can profitably be read by all students of the human condition."--Luke Timothy Johnson, Emory University (emeritus)"Joshua Jipp's book is not so much an addition to the enormous mountain of books on Pauline theology as it is a consideration of what Pauline theology might be for to begin with. What is Paul up to, as it were, with all this theology? Jipp's answer is at once both ancient and contemporary: Paul's theology is aimed at the good life. It works to shape those for whom it matters into people whose Christlike transformation brings them deeper and deeper into what a good life actually is. Jipp is that rare combination of a prolific and thoughtful scholar, and this newest addition to his body of work shows learning and conceptual refinement. It is also a reframing of Paul in ways that are important to consider and also, as it turns out, existentially rich, pastorally relevant, and quietly inspiring."--C. Kavin Rowe, Duke Divinity School

This accessible introduction to Paul situates him clearly within first-century Judaism."Both Christians and Jews have much to gain from reading A Jewish Paul. Highly recommended!"--Jon D. Levenson, Harvard University"A compelling argument, sure to hold the attention of seasoned scholars while providing uninitiated readers a clear introduction to this important debate."--Pamela Eisenbaum, Iliff School of Theology"Thiessen provides the reader with a portrait of Paul that takes his Jewishness with the seriousness it deserves. The debate on many issues he engages will not be brought to closure, but he charts directions that all scholars will need to consider going forward."--Gary A. Anderson, University of Notre Dame"It is so difficult to give a historically compelling account of the apostle Paul that is, at the same time, helpful to readers of Christian Scripture and, on top of all that, readable and accessible. I know because I have tried. Now, though, I will be very happy simply to refer people to this wonderful book."--Matthew V. Novenson, University of Edinburgh"An excellent introduction to Paul. I cannot recommend A Jewish Paul enough for serious and important conversations between Jews and Christians."--Ronald Charles, University of Toronto"Genuinely fresh, thoroughly stimulating, and highly accessible. All who consider themselves students of Paul--whether the beginner or the scholar--will find themselves engrossed in this book's pages."--Michael Patrick Barber, Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology"Thiessen offers students and scholars alike an invaluable resource: an accessible-yet-innovative introduction to a Jewish Paul, the herald of Israel's Messiah to the non-Jewish nations."--Rafael Rodríguez, Johnson University"This book is as readable as it is masterful. Its message could not possibly be more important if Christians and New Testament scholars alike are to finally escape the gross misreadings of Paul that continuously put Jewish lives in danger of violence."--Sara Parks, St. Francis Xavier University

Foundations for Spirit-Filled ChristianityJerry Ireland, Paul W. Lewis, and Frank D. Macchia, series editorsThis introduction to Christian spirituality encourages students to adopt a lifestyle spirituality, which involves relational intimacy with the triune God."Gary Tyra's accessible treatment of spiritual life in, with, and through the real person of Christ available by the Holy Spirit is a welcome addition to recent spiritual formation literature. Biblically grounded and theologically engaged, Introduction to Spirituality is an excellent resource for anyone interested in going deeper in Christian spiritual life."--Steve L. Porter, Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture, Westmont College; editor, Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care"Through his lucid and persuasive language, Tyra masterfully engraves in his readers' minds that true spirituality is biblically based, theologically sound, and essentially missional. Enjoying an 'I-Thou' relationship with God brings us to a transformed, God-honoring, and fruit-bearing lifestyle through the leading of the Spirit. This includes being mentored by the risen Lord to become like him before others. I recommend this book to all who desire to live a life pleasing to God."--Roji Thomas George, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India"A biblically informed Christian spirituality that is thoroughly trinitarian. By weaving the idea of 'keeping in step with the Spirit' throughout the book, Tyra invites readers to abide in and walk behind Christ in the power of the Spirit. This is what makes his proposal--which requires foundational convictions that produce a set of commitments that will, in the end, bring forth an array of customs of spirituality--theologically real."--Florian M. P. Simatupang, lead pastor, IES Christ the King; Theology Faculty, Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Satyabhakti, IndonesiaPraise for the Foundations for Spirit-Filled Christianity Series"The church and academy are finally ready for Foundations for Spirit-Filled Christianity, which relays the insights and perspectives of mature Pentecostal and Charismatic theologians and biblical scholars on a broad array of important theological topics, doctrinal loci, and practical realities."--Amos Yong, Fuller Theological Seminary

"This is Protestant theology at its very best"Protestants often view the doctrine of good works with suspicion. This book shows how biblical exegesis, systematic and historical theology, and practical theology can together contribute to the recovery of a robust account of good works."A powerful and necessary intervention for an American church addicted to cheap grace. This is Protestant theology at its very best, because this is theology from and for the church. Every pastor and teacher should read this book."--Keith L. Johnson, Wheaton College"Good works are an often neglected or misunderstood scriptural theme. McCall, Friedeman, and Friedeman correct many misconceptions and set forth their own understanding in this important work. I am grateful for this contribution and hope it precipitates further conversation and study."--Thomas Schreiner, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary"Unfortunately, in some Protestant circles since the Reformation, good works have undeservedly gotten a bad name. This book takes on numerous caricatures such as 'Good works have nothing to do with salvation' in a refreshing and detailed way, and the result is the best single study I know of on this subject. I highly recommend it."--Ben Witherington III, Asbury Theological Seminary"McCall, Friedeman, and Friedeman offer a gift to the church in this challenge to reclaim good works in the Protestant tradition. Ultimately, this book is a needed corrective to cognition-centered faith that may not actually be faith at all."--Christa L. McKirland, Carey Baptist College; executive director of Logia International"Saved by good works? Yes! Not only Catholics but also Protestants have traditionally taught this. This book contributes positively to the current theological conversation about how to best systematize what Scripture teaches about salvation. Highly recommended."--Matthew W. Bates, Quincy University; author of Salvation by Allegiance Alone

This introductory theology text explains key concepts in Christian doctrine and shows that doctrine is integrally linked to the practical realities of Christian life. In order to grow into more faithful practitioners of Christianity, we need to engage in the practice of learning doctrine and understanding how it shapes faithful lives. Beth Felker Jones helps students articulate basic Christian doctrines, think theologically so they can act Christianly in a diverse world, and connect Christian thought to their everyday life of faith.This book, written from a solidly evangelical yet ecumenically aware perspective, models a way of doing theology that is generous and charitable. It attends to history and contemporary debates and features voices from the global church. Sidebars made up of illustrative quotations, key Scripture passages, classic hymn texts, and devotional poetry punctuate the chapters.