What God Intended for the Body of Christ Fellowship among believers is more than just talking over coffee after church service. Biblical fellowship in New Testament times—or koinonia—had rich and varied meanings, including covenant relationship, partnership in the gospel, communion with God and others, and the sharing of earthly possessions. In True Community, bestselling author Jerry Bridges guides you through koinonia and its implications for today’s church. With discussion questions at the end of each chapter, this book will help you dig deeper into what Christian community in the twenty-first century should look like. You will come away with a new appreciation for fellowship, the church, and what God intended the body of Christ to be. With a discussion guide for personal or group use.

Building True Community explores how to build a sense of community as an antidote to divisiveness and distrust. Based on more than thirty years of working with the community building model developed by M. Scott Peck, M.D., bestselling author of The Road Less Traveled and co-founder of the Foundation for Community Encouragement, this book provides a detailed description of the community building experience, how to facilitate the experience, and how to integrate its principles and practices into daily life. Learn how to: • deepen and restore relationships, resolve conflicts, and experience the freedom to be your authentic, best self; • dissolve fixed mental perceptions that reinforce the “optical delusion” of our separateness; • confront what keeps divisions in place that separate people and lead to conflict. Other topics include the underlying principles and conditions that make a sense of community possible, how to create conditions for communities to take root and flourish, how the stages of community play out in daily life, and how to integrate community building practices into daily life. The book also looks back at the origins of community and considers the community building experience as a fusion of spiritual practice with a scientific foundation.

In today's frenetic society, people rarely develop intimate friendships. Instead, they spend their lives essentially disconnected from others, rushing through life content with brief visits and casual conversations. But what if one were to develop a community, a spiritual community, of people who walked with and supported each other through life's journey? A community of real friends who listened to each other's personal tragedies without merely trying to fix the problems, who encouraged and nurtured each other's strengths, and who accepted people for who they really are, instead of the image they try to portray. In Becoming a True Spiritual Community (formerly titled The Safest Place on Earth), Larry Crabb explores such a place, where God can heal disconnected people and allow them to reconnect with each other and, ultimately, with Him.

Too often we exclusively associate suicide with depression, Being A True Hero looks at the many causes of suicide, from depression, bullying, brain injuries, psychosis, lack of sleep, childhood trauma, the cluster effect, loneliness, failure and many more. This book will help the reader to know more about suicide, whether they are a concerned parent, a friend, an employer, a counsellor, sports coach or a doctor. The book is the result of over 10 years research. Michael Hempseed effortlessly merges scientific research with real world examples, he presents complex scientific information in a way so that anyone can understand it. Being a True Hero, is full of possibilities for recovery and the sheer number of options for help will astound many readers. More importantly he shows that no matter how bad the situation is there is always hope. Reviews… “An easy to read and thoroughly worthwhile book.” Dame Sue Bagshaw, Senior Lecturer of Paediatrics at the Christchurch School of Medicine. "A beacon of hope to the community...Michael’s thorough research is narrated with insightful reflections from practical experience...Highly recommended to those in the Health & Teaching Professions. " Dr. Susan Maree Taylor, rural GP" Michael writes about mental illness and suicide with compassion and hope. His book is useful for people who have personal experience, the people who love them, and professionals who work in the field. It is serious, at times funny, and references up to date research." Kay O’Connor PhD, counsellor "I recently asked a friend I was concerned about if he was suicidal, it turned out he was - and needed help. Without the information in this book I never would have had the confidence to do that. The material in this book could save many lives." Thomas Saywell, Youth Worker

In today's frenetic society, people rarely develop intimate friendships. Instead, they spend their lives essentially disconnected from others, rushing through life content with brief visits and casual conversations. But what if one were to develop a community, a spiritual community, of people who walked with and supported each other through life's journey? A community of real friends who listened to each other's personal tragedies without merely trying to fix the problems, who encouraged and nurtured each other's strengths, and who accepted people for who they really are, instead of the image they try to portray. In Becoming a True Spiritual Community (formerly titled The Safest Place on Earth), Larry Crabb explores such a place, where God can heal disconnected people and allow them to reconnect with each other and, ultimately, with Him.