N.T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides. How does a Christian behave when surrounded by a hostile world that doesn't understand who we are or why we do what we do? In three letters, Peter a...[More]

N.T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides. How does a Christian behave when surrounded by a hostile world that doesn't understand who we are or why we do what we do? In three letters, Peter and Jude provide some answers: Abandon the old pagan ways. Learn the new habit of love. Put on the mental armor that will make you strong to face suffering that may come.

These nine studies from Tom Wright show you the wisdom of their words for us today and remind you, in the midst of hardship, that the God who deserves all praise is still "the one who is able to keep you standing upright."

CONTENTS
Suggestions for Individual Study
Suggestions for Group Members
1. 1 Peter 1:1--2:3
Ransomed by Grace
2. 1 Peter 2:4-25
Living Stones
3. 1 Peter 3
Seek Peace, and Follow After It
4. 1 Peter 4
Transformed Living
5. 1 Peter 5
Stand Firm
6. 2 Peter 1
Confirming Your Call
7. 2 Peter 2
False Prophets
8. 2 Peter 3
God's Patience: Our Opportunity
9. Jude
Contend for the Faith
Guidelines for Leaders[Less]

A compilation of stories representing a vast demographic of Muslims--from Jihadists to peaceful leaders and humble Bedouins to intellectuals of various echelons of society worldwide. The stories inclu...[More]

A compilation of stories representing a vast demographic of Muslims--from Jihadists to peaceful leaders and humble Bedouins to intellectuals of various echelons of society worldwide. The stories include a man raised to be a terrorist, a scholar seeking to know Muhammad and a woman raised as a Bedouin. Through these experiences you will gain a deeper understanding of Islam and be amazed at the personal encounters with the God of Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, and Jacob. You will hear truths from the Qur'an, the Torah, the Zabur (the Book of Psalms), and the Injil (the Gospel)--the words of Muhammad, Moses, Jesus, and the ancient prophets of God. In their own words, ten amazing Muslims tell their stories about how God chose to reveal Himself to them in extraordinarily supernatural ways. Most of these men and women are devout Muslims, while others are scholars of the Qur'an and Hadith--some are just ordinary Muslims searching for answers from God.[Less]

The Parables Of: The Friend at Midnight, the Shrewd Manager, and the Barren Fig Tree Gone are the days of the flannelgraph. Well, we hope so anyway! Students today are looking to connect with t...[More]

The Parables Of: The Friend at Midnight, the Shrewd Manager, and the Barren Fig Tree Gone are the days of the flannelgraph. Well, we hope so anyway! Students today are looking to connect with the teachings of Jesus, but often the stories they hear or read about Jesus sound like just that---stories. Using thought-provoking short films from 36 Parables, and the free downloadable discussion guides, you can help your students truly experience the parables of Jesus. Use these short films as an introduction to a message, an illustration, or a discussion starter. However you choose to use 36 Parables, your students will discover the truth inside each story and God's truth will be revealed to them in a new light. This DVD offers three compelling videos that put Jesus' parables into a modern day scenario, giving students something to think about and opening up opportunities for dialogue. The parables on 36 Parables: Purple include:
* 'Out of Reach' portrays a young girl trying to persuade her father to let her play with his antique fire truck. Based on the Parable of the Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5-8); approx. 4 min.
* 'The Car Lot' introduces a car salesman who is forced to think creatively in order to obtain a new job. Based on the Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-13); approx 6 min.
* 'Sean' shows the story of a high school teacher who fights for a student who is facing expulsion. Based on the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9); approx 6 min. Illuminate God's Word in a whole new way, and your students will begin to see their faith in a whole new way.
*The DVD also includes two documentaries, Behind the Scenes, and Why Parables?.
*The scripture for all three parables are on the DVD menus as well.[Less]

Portraits Of Humanity From Around The World. The latest project from bestselling photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, "6 Billion Others "presents the photographic portraits and transcribed respon...[More]

Portraits Of Humanity From Around The World. The latest project from bestselling photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, "6 Billion Others "presents the photographic portraits and transcribed responses of 500 men and women, interviewed on video over the past six years. This understated yet compelling look at ways of life both familiar and strange creates an instructive, affecting biography of modern humanity. Inspired by the idea that "every single person has got something interesting to say, and every single person has the right to say it," Arthus-Bertrand created a questionnaire of 40 prompts on universal topics such as family, happiness, money, and love, and dispatched six filmmakers to interview more than 5,000 subjects in 75 countries around the world. Physical Info: 1.13" H x 7.38" L x 5.6" W[Less]

Discovering Christianity's Most Dangerous Ideas. deas have consequences, sometimes far-reaching and world-changing ones. The Christian faith contains many volatile truths that challenged--and c...[More]

Discovering Christianity's Most Dangerous Ideas. deas have consequences, sometimes far-reaching and world-changing ones. The Christian faith contains many volatile truths that challenged--and continue to challenge--the cultural and religious status quo. This fascinating exploration offers a unique look at how the world changed when Christ and his followers came on the scene. In a world where Christian belief and practice are increasingly under fire, 7 Truths That Changed the World will give you the confidence to impact the world for Christ--for good.

"While many Christians are accustomed to hearing that there is good evidence for their faith, far less common are arguments that point out how other worldviews are far inferior in terms of both evidence and explanatory power. Ken Samples develops a cumulative case for Christianity, arguing well that no other thesis even comes close to accounting for what we know about reality. 7 Truths That Changed the World is a very readable and recommended account that describes what Samples calls Christianity's seven dangerous ideas that best encapsulate the current state of the evidence." --Gary R. Habermas, Distinguished Research Professor, Liberty University

"Ken Samples has done it again. He has written about some of the most important issues in life, with seriousness and depth, and then made it accessible to everyone. I hope 7 Truths That Changed the World is read in Bible studies and home groups around the globe. It has a transformative message and a style that can engage everyone." --Craig J. Hazen, professor and director of Christian apologetics, Biola University[Less]

A Guide to Public and Personal Intercession. In the spirit of the Book of Common Prayer, Art Nelson provides a new collection of public and private prayers to help us meet the uncertainties of ...[More]

A Guide to Public and Personal Intercession. In the spirit of the Book of Common Prayer, Art Nelson provides a new collection of public and private prayers to help us meet the uncertainties of life with the dignity of prayer. Often when situations of very specific pain or joy arise (pregnancy at risk, marriage crisis, addiction, psychosis, incarceration, rape, celebrating wedding or anniversary, victory over abuse, etc.), we struggle to find the right words to pray for that situation. The high emotion of the moment or the longstanding nature of a chronic illness or the shock of enduring a national crisis leave us frustrated at just the time when we want and need to pray. This is a difficult and uncertain time for individuals, communities and nations. These timely and sensitive prayers are meant to stimulate reflection and provide reassurance--both for us and for those we pray for.[Less]

For over a millennium, the Islamic empires were ahead of the West in learning, technology, and medicine, and were militarily far more powerful. It took another three hundred years for the West to catc...[More]

For over a millennium, the Islamic empires were ahead of the West in learning, technology, and medicine, and were militarily far more powerful. It took another three hundred years for the West to catch up and overtake the Middle East. In this fully updated and revised edition, historian Christopher Catherwood brings the account up to the present day and places in context the continuing friction between Israel and Palestine, the aftermath of the Iraq conflict, and the rising threat of Iran.

Author:
Christopher Catherwood is a historian and terrorism specialist who appears regularly on CNN and the BBC. He is also the author of several books including "Churchill's Folly" and "Merchants of Fear." He lives in Cambridge, England.[Less]

The Untold Dtory of Iranian Christian Martyrs. Iran, 1993. A judge issues an official death sentence to Mehdi Dibaj, a man already imprisoned for 10 years. A copy of the official execution orde...[More]

The Untold Dtory of Iranian Christian Martyrs. Iran, 1993. A judge issues an official death sentence to Mehdi Dibaj, a man already imprisoned for 10 years. A copy of the official execution order is leaked to Haik Hovsepian, the leader of the Evangelical Christians in Iran. Haik, at peril to his own life, releases the document and launches an international campaign to bring an end to the civil rights violations of the Iranian Islamic courts. International pressure mounts, and the Iranian government is forced to release Dibaj at the eleventh hour. But there is a price to pay... A Cry from Iran is an award-winning documented true story, that includes hidden camera footage filmed in Iran during the actual events. It has inspired viewers from all backgrounds.

"Had the book of Hebrews been written in our time, he would have been mentioned in there." - Dr. Ravi Zacharias
Only available in North American format.[Less]

Embracing The New Small-Group Dynamic. Many churches still take a modern approach to small-group ministry, but the truth is we now live in a post-Christian world. Society’s definitions for fa...[More]

Embracing The New Small-Group Dynamic. Many churches still take a modern approach to small-group ministry, but the truth is we now live in a post-Christian world. Society’s definitions for family, spirituality, and even truth are different than they were ten years ago. In A Different Kind of Tribe, small-groups expert Rick Howerton explains what has changed, offers a new approach to small-group life, and equips you to succeed.

Discover:
• What leadership traits the new small group leader must have.
• How to start groups that are more about making disciples than assimilating people into church life.
• Why it is important for groups to live a missional mindset.
• What holds small-group members captive and how to set them free.
• How to use the “four quadrants” of small group life to create a transformational small group.

To read a Sample chapter, Click Here[Less]

Our Unlikely Journey to End the Tears of Hunger
A Dream So Big is the story of Steve Peifer, a corporate manager who once oversaw 9,000 computer software consultants, who today helps provid...[More]

Our Unlikely Journey to End the Tears of Hunger
A Dream So Big is the story of Steve Peifer, a corporate manager who once oversaw 9,000 computer software consultants, who today helps provide daily lunches for over 20,000 Kenyan school children in thirty-five national public schools, and maintains solar-powered computer labs at twenty rural African schools. Steve and his wife, Nancy, were enjoying a successful management career with one of America's high tech corporate giants during the dot-com boom of the 1990's when, in 1997, he and his wife Nancy discovered they were pregnant with their third child. Tragically, doctors said a chromosomal condition left their baby 'incompatible with life.' The Peifers only spent 8 days with baby Stephen before he died. Seeking to flee the pain, Steve and Nancy began a pilgrimage that thrust them into a third-world setting where daily life was often defined by tragedy---drought, disease, poverty, hunger, and death. They didn't arrive in the service of any divine calling, but the truth of their surroundings spoke to their troubled hearts. A short-term, 12-month mission assignment as dorm parents for a Kenyan boarding school turned this ordinary man into the most unlikely internationally recognized hero, and his story will inspire you to pursue similar lives of service.

Contributor Bio: Peifer, Steve
Steve Peifer serves as Director of College Guidance for Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. He established a rural food program in 2002 that provides lunches for 20,000 Kenyan schoolchildren a day. He has also built the first solar-powered computer-training center in Kenya, and is now developing twenty computer classroom labs for rural schools. For his work on behalf of Kenyan children, he was awarded the CNN Heroes Award for Championing Children in 2007, the 2007 Yale Counseling Award and the 2010 NACAC Excellence in Education Award. Steve and Nancy have four children.

Contributor Bio: Lewis, Gregg
Gregg Lewis is an award-winning author and coauthor of more than fifty books, including Gifted Hands, The Ben Carson Story, Take the Risk and The Big Picture.[Less]

Sustainable Freedom and the American Future. How can a free republic maintain its freedom? "If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we m...[More]

Sustainable Freedom and the American Future. How can a free republic maintain its freedom? "If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." -- Abraham Lincoln

In this highly polarized age, political leaders on all sides debate what it means to be a free people. People confuse freedom with mere consumer choices. Popular movements contend against how government or corporate entities infringe upon individual and collective freedom. Economic crises and social inequities call into question whether our American notion of freedom is real or merely illusory. Cultural observer Os Guinness argues that the American experiment in freedom is at risk. While freedom is perhaps the most defining trait of American society, it is not enough for freedom to be won. It must also be sustained. Unrestrained freedom is unsustainable because it undermines the very conditions necessary for freedom to exist.

Guinness's careful study of history reminds us that it is not enough to have negative freedom from constraint. He calls us to cultivate the essential civic character needed for ordered liberty and sustainable freedom. True freedom requires virtue, which in turn requires faith. Only within the framework of what is true, right and good can freedom be found. "In the end," Guinness writes, "the ultimate threat to the American republic will be Americans. The problem is not wolves at the door but termites in the floor." The future of the republic depends on whether Americans will rise to the challenge of living up to America's unfulfilled potential for freedom, both for itself and for the world.

"Sometimes a book is so important and so timely that not to have read it is to embarrass oneself. This is such a book. Its message is so crucial and so clear that all Americans are obligated to read it and have a national conversation on its themes. No cultural commentator or politician who has not read this book should ever be taken seriously again. Let this book be the new litmus test. If you are serious about America, be familiar with its themes and expect to discuss them and to be tested on them. Rest assured that you will be, because America is now herself being tested on them. Alas, we will not be graded on a curve. This book's clarion call is both piercing and full of hope. May God help us to hear it and to take action." --Eric Metaxas, author of "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy" and "Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery"

"In a passionate work that blends historical-cultural analysis with moral exhortation, Os Guinness finds at the heart of America's culture wars something different than what many observers have seen. He identifies a 'freedom war, ' a struggle over the very concept of freedom itself. As the Founders well understood, it is not enough for Americans to invoke endlessly the name of 'freedom' when they no longer agree as to what it means or what ends freedom is meant to serve. Guinness warns that freedom cannot long endure unless it is consecrated to purposes beyond itself. It is a warning worth heeding." --Wilfred M. McClay, SunTrust Chair of Excellence in Humanities, University of Tennessee[Less]

Author Mark Noll presents the unfolding drama of American Christianity with accuracy and skill, from the first European settlements to ecumenism in the late 20th Century. This work has become a standa...[More]

Author Mark Noll presents the unfolding drama of American Christianity with accuracy and skill, from the first European settlements to ecumenism in the late 20th Century. This work has become a standard in the field of North American religious history.[Less]

Sometimes the world doesn't make sense. Things seem random and disconnected, and we wonder if there's any purpose to it all, any meaning to our lives. But what if everything could make sense? What if ...[More]

Sometimes the world doesn't make sense. Things seem random and disconnected, and we wonder if there's any purpose to it all, any meaning to our lives. But what if everything could make sense? What if the scattered pieces are actually meant to fit together?

Alex McLellan says that figuring out life is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. You don't have to have every piece in place before you start to see the big picture. You just need enough important pieces to fit together. There are enough clues in the universe and in human experience to discern that there is an underlying order and significance to all things.

McLellan explores competing views of truth and belief and examines the nature of doubt. Ultimately Christianity is reasonable because it resonates with how we see and experience the world. Even if we don't have absolute certainty, we have enough to go on to have confidence in the Christian worldview.

You don't have to have all the answers. Just start putting the pieces together, and the big picture will emerge.

"As an adjunct apologist with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, Alex McLellan is a tremendous asset to our international speaking team. His writing is equally compelling, for he shows how metaphor and real-life stories make sense of the gospel for skeptics and believers alike. I wholeheartedly recommend this book." —Ravi Zacharias, author and speaker

"This is a warm, well-informed, conversational approach to worldview issues. McLellan presents an effective cumulative-case strategy for making sense out of life by navigating the waters of competing worldviews. Readers will be strengthened in their faith and equipped to share that faith with others." —J. P. Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, and author of The God Question[Less]

The Missional Church And The Biblical Story. There is a growing body of literature about the missional church, but the word missional is often defined in competing ways with little attempt to g...[More]

The Missional Church And The Biblical Story. There is a growing body of literature about the missional church, but the word missional is often defined in competing ways with little attempt to ground it deeply in Scripture. In A Light to the Nations, Michael Goheen unpacks the missional identity of the church by tracing the role God's people are called to play in the biblical story. Goheen examines the historical, theological, and biblical foundations of missional ecclesiology, showing that the church's identity can be understood only when its role is articulated in the context of the whole biblical story--not just the New Testament. He shows that the Old Testament is essential to understanding the church's missional identity. Goheen also explores practical outworkings and implications and offers field-tested suggestions, putting Lesslie Newbigin's missionary ecclesiology to work in shaping the contemporary church. The book is written at a level easily accessible to students in missions, pastoral, worldview, and theology courses as well as pastors, church leaders, and all readers interested in the missional church.

"Based on the whole biblical narrative, this book is a powerful presentation of what it takes for a missional church in the twenty-first century to be 'A Light to the Nations.' It is both compelling and persuasive!" --Gerald H. Anderson, director emeritus, Overseas Ministries Study Center, New Haven, CT

"In the face of the weakened ecclesiology of a church mired in a postmodern, consumeristic, entertainment-oriented morass, Michael Goheen in A Light to the Nations masterfully calls his readers to a renewed missional imagination. Goheen traces the missional theme through Scripture, enabling us to see that his vision is not really new but the rediscovery of the robust, missional ecclesiology that has always characterized the people of God at their best. Goheen leads us into an expansive vision of what it means to be God's called, eschatological people embodying the new creation. If you long to understand what it really means to be a missional church, not as a simple slogan but as our deepest identity, then this book is the indispensable road map. I heartily recommend it!" --Timothy C. Tennent, president and professor of world Christianity, Asbury Theological Seminary

"It is so encouraging to see the revived interest in missional interpretation of the Bible flourishing and bearing fruit. This marvelous book by Mike Goheen moves the discipline significantly forward. It roots our understanding of the church's role and mission in the whole of the Scriptures, showing how formative the Old Testament was for Jesus and his New Testament followers and remains for us. The nourishing meat of rich biblical reflection is sandwiched between a historical analysis of the cultural roots of the contemporary church and a challenging conclusion as to how a church today can be truly missional and biblical. This is biblical theology in the service of the mission of God through God's people for the sake of God's world." --Christopher J. H. Wright, international director, Langham Partnership International; author, The Mission of God and The Mission of God's People[Less]

"Dr. Ed Hoskins book 'A Muslim's Mind' is a must-read for anyone who wants to truly understand how Muslims think and live. I have lived and worked and served with Muslims since 1983, so I am no novice to these thoughts. But I was shocked by the breadth and understanding of this book. My eyes and heart were opened to whole new vistas of seeing really seeing my Muslim friends. Ed, thank you for taking the time to write this amazing work. I will recommend, even insist, that everyone I know reads this book!" --Carl Medearis, author of Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships; coauthor of Tea with Hezbollah: Sitting at the Enemies Table

Most Christian workers rely on the Qur'an as their primary source for understanding Islam and Muslims. But it is actually the so-called Islamic traditions (the Hadiths) that influence Muslim thought and behavior more than anything else. Author and Navigator Ed Hoskins has spent years sequentially going through approximately 35,000 respected Islamic traditions, condensing them into a usable format, and organizing them into six topics:

Muhammad
Women
Heaven and hell
Jews and Christians
Shariah law
Jihad

"'A Muslim's Mind' is a fascinating book. Not only does it convey impressive research into all kinds of controversial subjects, but it also gives convincing proofs and solutions for the problems one encounters when dealing with Islam and some of the violent traditions advocated by radical groups. This book is written for the Christian who wants to understand the makeup of the Muslim s thoughts and actions. It deals with an impressive number of Arab sources that are not easy to understand or investigate. Dr. Hoskins has succeeded in dealing with them with sensitivity and depth. Most readers will find the appendix most helpful for communicating deeply with those they want to help spiritually. All the concrete details using Islamic traditions as parallels to biblical concepts are invaluable for the serious person who wants to be used by God. I strongly recommend the reading of this book." --Jacqueline Hajjar, PhD, professor, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon

"Our value systems are a primary influence in our character and conduct. In this book Dr. Hoskins taught me more in three hours than I have learned in my entire life about the value systems that motivate millions of Abraham's descendents. It should be read by every person with a vision for the spiritual welfare of all mankind and reviewed often as a primary resource for all who pray and work for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven." --Jim Downing, international vice president of The Navigators (retired); author of Living Legacy: Reflections on Dawson Trotman and Lorne Sanny

About the Author
Dr. Ed Hoskins is a full-time physician with a heart for the Muslim community. A Muslim's Mind is rooted in more than thirty years of experience with Muslims. He and his wife, Charlene, have a passion to share the hope of Christ with their Muslim friends and mentor others who want to do the same. Ed and his wife have two children and two grandchildren, and they travel to both the Middle East and Far East. In his free time Ed likes to play chess and make wooden toys for children. Ed is also the author of "A Muslim's Heart" what every Christian needs to know about sharing Christ with Muslims.[Less]

America's Entitlement Epidemic. In "A Nation of Takers: America's Entitlement Epidemic," one of our country's foremost demographers, Nicholas Eberstadt, details the exponential growth in entitl...[More]

America's Entitlement Epidemic. In "A Nation of Takers: America's Entitlement Epidemic," one of our country's foremost demographers, Nicholas Eberstadt, details the exponential growth in entitlement spending over the past fifty years. As he notes, in 1960, entitlement payments accounted for well under a third of the federal government's total outlays. Today, entitlement spending accounts for a full two-thirds of the federal budget.

Drawing on an impressive array of data and employing a range of easy-to-read, four color charts, Eberstadt shows the unchecked spiral of spending on a range of entitlements, everything from medicare to disability payments. But Eberstadt does not just chart the astonishing growth of entitlement spending, he also details the enormous economic and cultural costs of this epidemic. He powerfully argues that while this spending certainly drains our federal coffers, it also has a very real, long-lasting, negative impact on the character of our citizens.

Also included in the book is a response from one of our leading political theorists, William Galston. In his incisive response, he questions Eberstadt's conclusions about the corrosive effect of entitlements on character and offers his own analysis of the impact of American entitlement growth.

Contributor Bio:
Nicholas Eberstadt holds the Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute. He is also a senior adviser to the National Board of Asian Research, a member of the visiting committee at the Harvard School of Public Health, and a member of the Global Leadership Council at the World Economic Forum. His previous works on Korean affairs include The Population of North Korea(co-author), Korea Approaches Reunification, A New International Engagement Framework for North Korea?, Korea's Future and the Great Powers (co-editor), and The End of North Korea.[Less]

In this new book, one of the world's the leading writers in the field, looks at Christianity's long history in China, its extraordinarily rapid rise in the last half of the twentieth century, and char...[More]

In this new book, one of the world's the leading writers in the field, looks at Christianity's long history in China, its extraordinarily rapid rise in the last half of the twentieth century, and charts its future direction.

Bays expertly tracks the expansion of Christianity in China from the seventh century to the present day, charting how a religion first brought into China by a foreign mission has been adapted by the local population into part of their religious landscape. Beginning with the Nestorian mission in the seventh century, Bays presents a bold reinterpretation which reveals a process that was closely bound up with national and local politics. The account moves through the expansion of Christianity in the Dynastic era, its survival under fire in the mid-1900s, and the growth of the Chinese Church from the end of the Cultural Revolution to the early twenty-first century.

The book concludes with an examination of the way in which China is both similar to and different from other non-Western societies-for example Africa, Korea, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands-where Christianity is surging. Throughout, "A New History of Christianity in China" offers a broad scope and incorporates the major scholarship of the last 30 years, weaving a balanced narrative of Christianity's long history in China, tracing its transformation from an imported, Western religion to a thoroughly Chinese religion today.

"This study is a splendid culmination to Daniel Bays' life-long engagement with Chinese history. It is lucid, succinct, balanced, reader-friendly, informative, and altogether authoritative. Readers interested in solid historical treatment of the dynamic story of Christianity in China need look no further. This is THE book." --Mark Noll, University of Notre Dame[Less]

How Churches Of Any Size Can Partner To Transform Communities. There's a growing desire among believers to reach beyond the walls of their churches to impact communities for God. But when the a...[More]

How Churches Of Any Size Can Partner To Transform Communities. There's a growing desire among believers to reach beyond the walls of their churches to impact communities for God. But when the average church size hovers around 150 members and the problems of even midsized cities seem insurmountable, how can we hope to make a difference?

"A New Kind of Big" tells the inspiring story of how Perimeter Church in suburban Atlanta started a partnership called Unite! with other area churches in order to increase its reach in a community that desperately needed God's light and aid. This partnership has grown to a network of nearly 150 churches that are bringing kingdom transformation to Atlanta. For instance, on just one weekend in 2007, 6,000 volunteers from over 60 churches in metro Atlanta gathered to work on 250 service projects inside the ten-mile radius around Perimeter Church. Thirty welcome baskets were delivered to refugees, a dozen homes were repaired, a thousand Bibles were given away, 750 "encourage a teacher" gift bags were distributed. And that's not all: volunteers orchestrated 20 block parties in low-income apartment communities and 65 neighborhood food drives that collected 25,000 pounds of food.

Chip Sweney shows Christian leaders how they too can discover the power of this "new kind of big" to pool their resources, energy, and time to minister to their communities, no matter how long or short their membership rolls.[Less]

How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good. Debates rage today about the role of religions in public life. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, various religions come to ...[More]

How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good. Debates rage today about the role of religions in public life. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, various religions come to inhabit the same space. But how do they live together, especially when each wants to shape the public realm according to the dictates of its own sacred texts and traditions? How does the Christian faith relate in the religious pluralism of contemporary public life?

While Volf argues that there is no single way Christian faith relates to culture as a whole, he explores major issues on the frontlines of faith today: 1) In what way does the Christian faith come to malfunction in the contemporary world, and how should we counter these malfunctions? 2) What should a Christian's main concern be when it comes to living well in the world today? and 3) How should we go about realizing a vision for human flourishing in relation to other faiths and under the roof of a single state?

Covering such timely issues as witness in a multifaith society and political engagement in a pluralistic world, this compelling book highlights things Christians can do to serve the common good.

"Our efforts as people of faith to bring our religious convictions into the public arena have clearly malfunctioned in recent years, but Miroslav Volf does not want us to retreat to a 'private faith' mentality. Instead he offers profound counsel about how faith-based public advocacy can promote the common good in our increasingly pluralistic world. This important book is packed with wisdom!" --Richard J. Mouw, president and professor of Christian philosophy, Fuller Theological Seminary[Less]

How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good. Debates rage today about the role of religions in public life. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, various religions come to ...[More]

How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good. Debates rage today about the role of religions in public life. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, various religions come to inhabit the same space. But how do they live together, especially when each wants to shape the public realm according to the dictates of its own sacred texts and traditions? How does the Christian faith relate in the religious pluralism of contemporary public life?

While Volf argues that there is no single way Christian faith relates to culture as a whole, he explores major issues on the frontlines of faith today: 1) In what way does the Christian faith come to malfunction in the contemporary world, and how should we counter these malfunctions? 2) What should a Christian's main concern be when it comes to living well in the world today? and 3) How should we go about realizing a vision for human flourishing in relation to other faiths and under the roof of a single state?

Covering such timely issues as witness in a multifaith society and political engagement in a pluralistic world, this compelling book highlights things Christians can do to serve the common good.

"Our efforts as people of faith to bring our religious convictions into the public arena have clearly malfunctioned in recent years, but Miroslav Volf does not want us to retreat to a 'private faith' mentality. Instead he offers profound counsel about how faith-based public advocacy can promote the common good in our increasingly pluralistic world. This important book is packed with wisdom!" --Richard J. Mouw, president and professor of Christian philosophy, Fuller Theological Seminary[Less]