You'll Learn from Jacob, Who Moved from Manipulation to Trust in God. Jacob is a troubling character in the Old Testament. He is conniving and he is spiritual too. He has moments of strong faith as well as of fear. His family is sometimes in disarray, and yet at the end he is the one who sets it straight. Jacob the Patriarch is a bit too much like us -- with very human strengths and weaknesses, but a man with a striving for spiritual things. From this imperfect man we learn important lessons of faith. especially, about God's grace. The events described in Jacob's story comprise most of Genesis chapters 25-49. If you haven't read the Old Testament much, you'll be pleased to find that God will speak to you here -- loud and clear. Each of the seven detailed lessons include probing discussion questions and can be used for personal enrichment, by small groups and classes, and by teachers and preachers.

Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom of God is the core of his message. But do you understand it? We are so used to nicely crafted sermons and tidy Christian platitudes, that we are shocked when we encounter the radical Jesus. And radical he was! With his cousin, John the Baptist, he came onto the scene and began to preach that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Reign of God had come to first century Palestine in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. What is this Kingdom of God? Why is it Good News? Why does it demand so much from you? How does it relate to your own life? As you come to grips with the raw truths that Jesus taught, without the sugarcoating of modern religion, your life will be changed! This book explores the Kingdom of God in 10 lessons that can be used for personal enrichment, by small groups and classes, and by teachers and preachers for sermon preparation.

"God's Grand Plan of the Ages" captures the highlights of the more comprehensive book The Divine Plan of the Ages. Though brief in nature, this 96-page booklet shares a satisfying explanation of age-old questions: Why does a God of love permit the evil we see in the world? Why are there tsunamis and earthquakes that kill thousands—and wars that kill millions? Why must we experience pain, heartache and finally death? When will God's Kingdom come and His will be "done on earth as it is in heaven?" "God's Grand Plan of the Ages" also covers the signs of the "Time of the End" prophecied in the book of Daniel (Daniel 12:1-4). Daniel's predicition that knowledge would be increased is happening before our very eyes as we see the Brain Age coming in at an unprecedented rate. Though technology has been a blessing in many ways, man's selfishness and greed is also leading the world to an ever increasing "time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation." What a comfort to know, that this trouble is a prophetic sign indicating that we are on the brink of the "Golden Age" that mankind has longed for since the dawn of history! God's Kingdom will be more wonderful, more glorious, more all encompassing, than all the dreams of philosophers, poets and sages. There will be a world of peace (Psalm 46:9) The heal ing of all the defects of humanity (Isa iah 35:5,6) Moral integrity will be planted in every heart (Jeremiah 31:33) All the dead of past ages will be raised to life again (1 Cor. 15:22) Sorrow, pain, tears and death itself will cease (Revelation 21:4) "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9) We hope you will receive a blessing from reading this booklet. We also recommend reading The Divine Plan of the Ages, available FREE on a DVD offered on the back of the booklet. It is but the first book in a series of six that covers every major doctrine of the Bible as a topical study with a harmony that is unprecedented in Christian literature. This six-volume set is also available FREE on the DVD—or at cost, in a hard bound edition.

An engaging history of the Shepherding Movement, an influential and controversial expression of the charismatic renewal in the 1970s and 1980s. This neopentecostal movement, led by popular Bible teachers Ern Baxter, Don Basham, Bob Mumford, Derek Prince and Charles Simpson, became a house church movement in the United States. The Shepherding Movement is a case study of an attempt at renewing church structures. Many critics accused the movement of being authoritarian because of its emphasis on submission to a personal pastor or "shepherd" as they termed it.

The Knowing the Bible series is a new resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God’s Word. Each 12-week study leads participants through one book of the Bible and is made up of four basic components: (1) Reflection questions designed to help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) “Gospel Glimpses” highlighting the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) “Whole-Bible Connections” showing how any given passage connects to the Bible’s overarching story of redemption culminating in Christ; and (4) “Theological Soundings” identifying how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from a wide array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God’s grace on each and every page of the Bible. In this accessible study, pastor and author Greg Gilbert examines the message of James, exploring the book’s difficult teachings on wealth, anointing with oil, prayer, healing, and the relationship between faith and works. Through clear exposition of the biblical text and challenging application questions, Gilbert helps readers rightly understand James as a stirring exhortation to fruitfulness, ultimately written to remind Christians of the necessary connection between genuine faith and heartfelt obedience.

In this transformative resource for youth workers, children's ministry teachers, parents, and VBS volunteers, Jack Klumpenhower teaches how to discover the gospel connections in every Bible story. Show Them Jesus is an instruction manual for teachers of kids and teens written by a lay Bible teacher with thirty years of experience. With a simple framework and real-life examples, Jack helps teachers identify and communicate the heart of the gospel to each child in each lesson. Show Them Jesus challenges the culture of low-stakes, low-expectations teaching and invites teachers to do nothing less than teach and treasure the good news of Jesus—in every lesson. Instead of leaving kids with lessons about changing their behavior, Show Them Jesus offers a new way by sweetly, masterfully, and powerfully showing kids how the gospel really applies to their lives and changes them for eternity. In sharing example after example from his years of experience, Jack provides readers with a more enriched view of Jesus and how to teach this gospel perspective in a classroom setting. This life-changing tool will complement and enrich existing lessons or teaching materials, and it's appropriate for teachers of children and teens in any setting. Millions of church kids are growing up and deciding to leave the church. If we are not primarily teaching our kids about God's love for us in Christ, we may miss our opportunity to capture their hearts. Don't miss your opportunity to show them Jesus.

Ephesians will lift your spirit and transform your life. Of all of St. Paul's Epistles, his Letter to the Ephesians is his spiritual masterpiece. Though written from prison in Rome, the first half of the Letter is full of praise and worship, an exalted understanding of Christ and a transcendent view of the Church. He challenges us to leave our lowest selves and inspires us to seek our highest potential in Jesus, seated with him at the right hand of the Father. Here is salvation by grace through faith, as well as the unity and mission of the church. Paul's prayers are amazing in their breadth and scope! The second half turns from doctrine to application. He spells out what unity looks like and how gifted ministry functions in the church body. Paul's condemnation of sinful attachments is matched by his conviction that the power of Christ can free us to become like "light in the Lord." He paints a portrait of a loving Christian marriage between believing spouses, and compares it to Christ and his Church. This prison epistle concludes with a challenge to "put on the whole armor of God" and to struggle in prayer for victory. All in all, it is an uplifting, glorious epistle indeed. This book explores Paul's letter in 16 lessons that can be used for personal enrichment, by small groups and classes, and by teachers and preachers for sermon preparation.