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God's people are meant to be a blessing to others. Yet in the Scriptures, throughout history, and in our own times we too often see the people of God causing harm to people on the margins. Rather than caring for the widowed and the orphaned or loving the sojourner, too often we see abuse of power that breaks spirits and inflicts lasting harm. For anyone who has felt left out or pushed out of the church, Othered is your invitation to find spiritual rest and belonging in a God who loves, restores, and blesses the outcast and the marginalized.

An expansive, substantive history of the Wesleyan tradition in the United States, Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline offers a broad survey of the Methodist movement as it developed and spread throughout America, from the colonial era to the present day. It also provides an theological appraisal of these developments in light of John Wesley's foundational vision. Beginning with Wesley himself, Watson describes the distinctiveness of the tradition at the outset.

Nothing is new or original in Christianity. That is the important thesis demonstrated in Christianity Before Christ. The least important features, as well as the most important components, were all well developed in cultures that flourished before the time that Christ is alleged to have walked the parched paths of Roman Palestine.

Over five hundred years ago, the Western church underwent a period of massive recalibration that exposed abuses and theological blind spots and revived the historical foundations of Christianity. Today, signs suggest that we have entered another such religious reformation as new technologies, ecclesial scandals, and a crisis of biblical authority leave many Christians adrift or deconstructing the faith they once took for granted. The Christian story the church has been telling has become too small, and we are at a dead end.

The world is a very different place from what it was just a few years ago. Today’s post-everything world is arguably more divisive, political, indifferent, and impatient than ever. While many believe that the best course of action is to find a way back to how things used to be, is that actually the best way forward? Given the many ways that our world has changed, it’s time for Christian leadership strategies to change, and for churches to approach making disciples, evangelism, and preaching differently than yesterday.

Theology shapes who we are and how we organize to transform the world. Especially written for required United Methodist classes, this accessible book uses a Wesleyan theological frame—connection—to help listeners understand United Methodism's polity and organization as the interrelationship of our beliefs, mission, and practice. The book is organized into four parts—United Methodist beliefs, mission, practice, and organization. Polity and organization are primary embodiments of The United Methodist Church.

The latest book from the author of Evangelism: For the Care of Souls.

People living with mental health challenges are not excluded from God’s love or even the fullness of life promised by Jesus. Unfortunately, this hope is often lost amid the well-meaning labels and medical treatments that dominate the world of mental health today. In Finding Jesus in the Storm, John Swinton makes the case for reclaiming that hope by changing the way we talk about mental health and remembering that, above all, people are people, regardless of how unconventionally they experience life. This means accepting the reality and ramifications of suffering while also affirming that there is more to humanity than cells and synapses.

With decades of leadership experience in business, nonprofits, and Christian higher education, Uli Chi helps listeners build this foundational virtue. Looking to Scripture as well as art and literature, Chi illuminates the nature of wisdom as fundamentally relational and other-centered. In the context of leadership, biblical wisdom shows us the importance of wielding power with humility. Chi also provides a framework for the formation of character and vision in the lifelong journey of gaining wisdom.

Why do Church leaders and Christian organizations struggle to connect with modern audiences? Where once the church was a cornerstone of local communities, today many people believe it is irrelevant or out of touch. And so, church leaders are now stuck between a warped public perception and the true message of the Gospel. If you care about the Christian message today, it is hard not to feel discouraged.

This volume undertakes a study of the leadership substance and styles of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and Joseph—son of Jacob. Abraham leads from a position of the Father, while Isaac leads from a position of the Son at rest and at peace. Jacob transforms from the worldly and carnal into Israel, the spiritual and divine. He signifies how a believer can go from carnal to spiritual.

Political and cultural wars are tearing communities apart. Issues such as immigration, racism, and guns are driving wedges between people and hampering Christians' impact in the world. In Empowered to Repair, Brenda Salter McNeil looks to the biblical story of Nehemiah for answers. There, she finds an action-based model for repairing and rebuilding our communities and transforming broken systems. McNeil goes beyond theories, offering practical tools Christians need for organizing, empowering, and activat

Theological Education demonstrates how churches and seminaries can cooperate through a competency-based learning approach to ministry preparation-that is, competency-based theological education (CBTE). CBTE focuses on the mutual mission of the church and theological education: developing followers of Christ who flourish in their vocations.

How do we help women at every stage of life and spiritual maturity grow to know God, be changed by him, and develop and use their talents and gifts? In too many of our Christian contexts, leadership training and ministry opportunities for women are inadequate or totally absent. This short guide puts foundational principles and practical plans—grounded in biblical truth—at your fingertips so, whether you’re in a leadership role at your church or hoping to impact a few friends or neighbors, you will discover insights, wisdom, and impactful “how-to’s” to lead women.

In all areas of life and leadership, we create very new ways of being with self and others. This book is full of leadership materials from my lifetime of various sources, including Healthy Congregations, Inc., an organization whose focus is around growing thoughtful leaders. A congregation, though commonly referred to as a spiritual group, is actually any group that is interacting and united in a common purpose, including relationships and families.

A common claim in modern American Christianity is that you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian. The writers of the New Testament, however, would find a Christian faith separate from the church to be unrecognizable. Dean Inserra has often said to his congregation, “There is more to being a Christian than going to church, but there certainly isn’t less.” Belonging to a local church is not something made up by a Christian subculture. The local church was God’s design.

This audiobook is written and narrated by Fr. Mark Lawlor, a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte for the past twenty-six years. Fr. Mark reflects on the call of the Lord and his journey to the priesthood. He relates the hand of God guiding him from his work as a nuclear engineer on submarine overhauls to being a parish priest.

Si queremos tener una iglesia victoriosa mañana, debemos enfocarnos en los jóvenes hoy. Comiskey escribe acerca de hacer discípulos de la próxima generación ahora. El autor analiza lo que está sucediendo hoy en el ministerio juvenil y establece su base bíblica. Comiskey pone en relieve las necesidades más sentidas de los jóvenes hoy, que incluyen la espiritualidad, las relaciones y el involucramiento. A continuación muestra las razones por las que estas necesidades pueden ser mejor atendidas en grupos celulares pequeños que también participan en una reunión de jóvenes más grande.

In The Expectation Gap, Steve Cuss—pastor and founder of the leadership organization Capable Life—offers tangible tools for engaging with God in a deeper, more soul-satisfying way. You'll unveil harmful expectations and patterns that keep you spiritually stuck so that you can replace them with habits and practices that will lead to a more vibrant faith life.

Drugs, prostitution, and the mafia all played a role in the downfall of one of America's most famous venues, Atlanta's Gold Club, which closed in 1999. A few years later, a visionary pastor and his flock of passionate and diverse members transformed the decaying building into a vibrant spiritual outpost. The stories of transformation among the people involved in this adventure will inspire and encourage you in your own journey of restoration.