The communities in which we live all suffer alienation from God and the sin, social disorder and brokenness that follows. As Christians, we yearn to see our communities saturated with the good news of Jesus Christ, but there are countless obstacles to overcome in our churches and mission agencies as we seek to fulfil this vision. In this book, Emerson Manaloto offers the model of New Testament-based house churches as the vehicle for gospel ministry in communities around the world with specific...
Rollins has already established himself as a major voice and an astute, generative force within the emergence Christianity. The Orthodox Heretic is his most accessible and engaging work to date." – Phyllis Tickle In this bold new book Peter Rollins presents a vision of faith that has little regard for the institutions of Christendom. His uncompromising critique of religion, while often unsettline, is infused with a deep and abiding love for what it means to genuinely follow Christ. Pete...
John Henry Newman (1801-1890) was a prominent figure in the religious history of England during the 19th century becoming nationally recognized by the mid-1830s. Originally an evangelistic Oxford scholar and clergyman in the Church of England, he was a leader in the Oxford Movement. This inspiring grouping of Anglicans wished to return the Church of England to the many Catholic beliefs and forms of worship. Newman left the Anglican Church and converted to Roman Catholicism, eventually acquiring...
The land of Israel is intimately linked to the adventures of the prophets, men like Elijah, Amos, Hosea, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the list goes on and on. How about prophets who were women? Does anyone remember that two gates of the Jerusalem Temple bore the name of Huldah, one of these women? Probably not, which is not all that astonishing given that history was written by men . . . Some women have, however, found places in history: Sarah and Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah, to name a few. Other...
Tain Gregory was present in his third grade classroom on the morning of December 14, 2012, the date of the Sandy Hook shootings. As part of the healing process for the community after the tragedy Tain was asked «What's the most important thing in the world to you?» His mother expected an answer about a video game or Pokemon trading card. Tain thought for a moment then answered with one word. «God.» Until that moment, Tain's mother had no idea how close to the surface...
Saint Paul declares, «Live by the Spirit» (Gal 5:6). This means our way of living ought to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Through a series of theoretical reflections, questions, and directed activities, this activity book will help you understand the relationship between spirituality and ethics, provide you some theoretical tools and practices for doing ethics and living spiritually, and encourage you to clarify your own manner of approaching ethical questions, founding moral values, and...
Trouble in the Diocese is a petulant, funny book of poetry. Its contrary protagonist/antagonist, the Apprentice, embraces life in both the large and the absurdly small. At the same time, he emphatically rejects the easy rigidity of doily-headed orthodox Catholics as well as the impulse in the Catholic literary Pixar world that seeks to serve two masters. Jesus and his Church are lifted up here, but so is the cross. Discipleship necessarily involves dis-ease, purgation, and if we as readers have...
The Greeks and Romans often exposed their babies, especially if the child was of the wrong gender, malformed or from the wrong father–or, more simply, when a child was not needed. It was lawful, but Jewish and then Christian teachers did everything to prevent the practice among their own groups. Most of the arguments used by Christians were borrowed from their Jewish predecessors. The unique value of every human being and God's commandments were emphasized in both religions. Above all, they...
Losing a dearly loved family member or friend suddenly, unexpectedly, and tragically jars us at our very core. We shudder at the thought of it. When that loss results from a suicide it defies and assaults everything in us. The unthinkable is often considered not survivable. In Surviving the Unthinkable theology professor Don J. Payne exits the classroom and invites you into the chambers of his personal experience of that indescribable loss. This intensely personal narrative traces his process...
The well known Austrian poet and spiritual writer, Rainer Maria Rilke encouraged his young friend not to be a «waster of sorrows,» but to use them in a positive way as a means to help him grow in holiness. And isn't this the challenge for all of us? Everyone has sorrows in life. The important question is: what can we do with them so that we don't waste them? Whether our sorrows are personal or communal, how can we share our mutual vulnerability so that we can connect with others in...
How do you introduce people to Jesus Christ who have had no contact with the Bible or its message? How do you reach those who have had no contact with the church and do not understand Christian terminology and may have a negative view of Christians? This is the culture in which we now find ourselves. By explaining how to use Bible discussion groups to introduce the gospel message in a relevant way in today's post-Christian culture, this book introduces the reader to a new and radical...