Most Christians believe that the Bible holds the answers to their questions about daily living, and that reading the Scriptures will show them good examples to follow for their own lives. Think for a moment and try to list a few examples of healthy families in the Bible who are ideals worth emulating. Having trouble? The families of the Bible were far from perfect, and not so different in that regard from our imperfect families today. In Flawed Families of the Bible, a New Testament scholar (David) and a professor of social work (Diana) take a real and close look at the actual families of the Bible. This honest book will inspire and encourage readers with its focus on the overarching theme of hope and grace for families, showing that it is in the "imperfect places" that we can catch a glimpse of grace. Perfect for pastors, counselors, and anyone in a flawed family.

The best stories in the book of Genesis involve families. The issues these stories raise—married vs. single life, sibling rivalry, infertility, family relocation, blended families, and the like—are startlingly relevant to families of today. This Bible study examines the families of Genesis, starting with how the Adam and Eve story encompasses far more ways of being family than most of us think. It looks at the sibling rivalry of the Cain and Abel story, pointing to the jealousy and violence to which the whole human family seems addicted. It uses the ups and downs of the relationship between Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael can help us understand the complicated dynamic of blended families. Carol Helsel and Suzie Park invite readers these and many other connections as they reexamine the joys and complications of modern family life. This engaging Bible study includes questions for individual reflection or group use.

There is nothing new under the sun. All over the world, Satan launches his attacks on the saints—sometimes subtly, sometimes furiously, but none of his tactics are new. Every family has issues. Whether it is single parenthood, adultery, misled children, or just plain old family squabbles, everyone has something difficult to deal with. Satan uses many measures in his effort to break families apart. But you are not alone in these struggles. Whatever problems Satan hurls at our families, the Bible provides a pointer to God's solution, because these issues were found in ancient times as well. Flawed Saints combines biblical stories with examples from the modern world to give relevant lessons to families everywhere. It began with Adam and Eve's family when the first murder was committed. It continued throughout the centuries until even Joseph and Mary, the chosen parents of Jesus, endured a scandalous pregnancy and much else besides. These are the types of stigmas and issues that Christian families must deal with even today. Emmanuel Oladipo goes in depth to discover how to overcome human frailties in light of these stories.Flawed Saints: Bible Family Problems and Lessons of Graceis an enlightening guide and comprehensive survey that uses giants of faith in the Bible to offer insightful guidelines to family health.

“You can’t trust the Bible — it’s full of hundreds of contradictions.” Really? Just because the critic mindlessly declares it so? Don’t be so fast to believe everything you hear! In this book Dr. Jason Lisle examines 420 claims of Bible contradictions and sets the record straight. Contradiction #139 Was Abraham justified by faith or by works? Romans 4:2 - says by faith VS. James 2:21 - says by works Bifurcation fallacy. Abraham was justified both by faith and by works (James 2:24, 26). To “justify” means either to be in right moral standing or to show that one is (morally) in right standing. Abraham was justified by faith before God since God knows all things — including Abraham’s faith (James 2:23). God sees our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7), so we are justified before God by our faith alone, which God can see. But men cannot see another man’s faith. They only see the outward works that follow from inward faith. Therefore, Abraham was justified before men by the works that followed from his faith, since men cannot see faith but can see works. James explicitly teaches this (James 2:18–26).

Anyone involved in Christian ministry knows how challenging it is to balance ministry and family responsibilities. Many demands pull leaders in different directions—making it easy to neglect one or the other, often without even realizing it. Writing from decades of counseling and personal ministry experience, Ajith Fernando points Christian leaders back to the most important aspect of their lives: their relationship with God. He then offers practical guidance for responding to real-life situations in the home, including disciplining children, dealing with disappointment, loving one's spouse, and pursuing joy. This book presents Christian leaders with a healthy and God-centered understanding of family that leads to a flourishing home.

All the women of the Bible offers a rich biographical perspective on evey female figure in scripture -- including the famous, the little-known, and even the unnamed. In more that 300 engaging and insightful portraits, Edith Deen brings alive the saints and sorceresses, queens and servants, mothers and daughters, wives and widows whose profound influence is felt through-out the Bible. "You can almost trace light and darkness in the Bible by the women themselves,"she writes. "Hannah, praying mother of Samuel, gave birth to a son who became the first great Hebrew prophet. And, of course, there was the mother of Jesus. On the other hand, Jezebel and Herodias were vile influences, the first tearing apart the northern kingdom of Israel, the second causing John the Baptist to be beheaded." Combining thorough detail with a lively and dramatic narrative, All of the Women of the Bible portrays the real women behind the Biblical stories and shows how, in their human struggles and triumphs, they are very much like the women of today. With each major biography identified by Bible chapter and verse and prefaced by a key passage of scripture, this is an ideal resources for teachers, Bible students, preachers, and writers, as well as anyone who wants to learn what it was really like to be a woman in Biblical times.

In this study, we focus on the relationships in Jacob's family.All of us have families. All families have strengths, weaknesses, conflicts, success stories, and unique relational patterns. Thefamily of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Esau, Leah, Rachel, and Laban isno exception. In their struggles, conflicts, and triumphs, we cometo know ourselves. As they overcame, we too can overcome.This is their story. It is our story too. NextSunday Resources offers Bible studies designed to help adults studyScripture seriously within the context of the larger Christian tradition and, through that process, find their faith renewed, challenged, and strengthened.We study the Scriptures because we believe they affect our currentlives in important ways. Inside, you'll find a Study Guide and a Commentaryfor each Lesson. For more small group Bible studies like this one, visitnextsunday.com/nextsunday-studies/