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Words matter. Words can build up, or words can tear down. As parents and church leaders, do we use our words well? Words Kids Need to Hear offers compelling, yet simple ways to build up the hearts of children through meaningful and well-chosen words. What children hear from adults they trust makes a significant impactnow and for years to come.Words Kids Need to Hear offers an easy-to-follow learning path. Each of the seven chapters focuses on a single statement kids need to hear from parents, childrens workers, and other close adults. These seven statements are simple to share, yet guaranteed to make a profound impact on a childs life. They are: I Believe in You You Can Count on Me I Treasure You Im Sorry, Please Forgive Me Because No I Love YouEach chapter seeks to educate first, equip, and then motivate to action. Words Kids Need to Hear helps parents and childrens workers use words to build up the hearts of elementary-age children, resulting in closer parent-child relationships that pave a path toward a relationship with God.

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Turning Controversy into Church Ministry

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One of the most volatile issues facing the Western Church is also one of the least discussed: homosexuality. Many pastors, church members, and congregations have become tired of the debate surrounding this topic but do not really understand the issues. Pulling away from this controversy doesnt seem to help; it keeps cropping up.Ninety percent of pastors are aware of members or visitors to their churches who struggle with homosexual tendencies, and the same percentage of churchgoers know a relative or friend who wrestles with this concern. The media, school systems, and nearly every sector of society will challenge Christians to give a reasoned response to the escalating gay agenda. For twenty-five years W. P. Campbell has studied and debated this topic as it relates to Christs Church. He has come to the conclusion that it will not go away in our generation, but it can be coaxed to find its proper place in any congregation when it is tackled with a firm but loving grip. Homosexuality in the Church is a guidebook to help Christians and whole congregations do just that. It faces the heart of the controversy with the love and compassion of Christ and turns it into effective ministry.Framed by the most significant biblical passages related to homosexuality and supported by science, psychology and sociology, each of the five parts of the book unfold a unique aspect of Gods person and purpose. As our Creator, he has made us to be whole; as our King he has provided laws and guidelines to help us remain that way; as our Redeemer, his power can save us from sin; as our Guide, his light will guide us out; as our Strength, he will make our ministry effective.As a resource for the church today, this book will:       Provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the biblical data about homosexuality       Inform readers about current scientific, psychological, and cultural findings related to same-sex            practice       Teach readers Christ-like responses to gay rights activists in the Church and help them to know how           to avoid extreme stances about homosexuals and the Church that result in alienating others or in           supporting sexual sin       Offer guidelines and tools to church leaders for mobilizing a congregation to study this topic and to           engage in ministry to recovering homosexuals

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40 Days with a Life Coach to Create the Best You

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Get the kind of makeover that will transform your life!

Bestselling author and life coach Katie Brazelton takes you on a deeply personal forty-day journey of developing your character. Discover how to close the gap between understanding God's purpose for your life and carrying it out as you put an end to well-worn patterns of defeat, woundedness, insecurity, unworthiness, and self-centeredness.

Teaming up with coauthor Shelley Leith, who is a highly sought-after speaker on strengthening marriages and family, Brazelton focuses on eight character traits essential to living a purpose-filled life:
humilityconfidencecourageself-controlpatiencecontentmentgenerosityperseverance
Step-by-step you'll experience a complete character makeover--and become the best "you" God intended you to be. Ideal for small groups, women's church ministry, and one-on-one study.

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Finding Gods Peace and Strength in Lifes Darkest Moments

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For many, the Christian life looks like this: You call out to God. Your problems get worse. You suffer and wait. Nothing changes. Author John S. Dickerson knows the feeling. A rare health condition drove him to examine the Bible's claim that "when I am weak, then I am strong." As a journalist, Dickerson has seen severe human suffering. As a pastor, he has comforted others through unimaginable grief. He wrote I Am Strong to give understanding, hope, and strength to the hurting.

In its chapters, I Am Strong equips you to:
Unlock Gods strength for your difficulties.Understand how a loving God will resolve your pain.Know God's plan to repurpose your pain, injustice, and inadequacy.Understand why your suffering does not mean God is punishing you.Overcome life's circumstances as Christ and Paul did.Discover the life-changing power of God's strength in your weakness.
I Am Strong breathes hope and comfort. Much more, it offers daily practices and lifelong vision on which to build an unshakeable life of meaning and peace.

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Understanding the First Half of the Bible

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Most Christians don't quite know what to do with the first half of the Bible. Some are fascinated by the historical sweep of the Old Testament. Others are blessed by its poetry. Still others focus on its prophecies. But what are the heart and soul of the Old Testament? In From Creation to the Cross, Al Baylis is a guide who shares with us his love for, and profound understanding of, the Old Testament. He walks us through the Old Testament, pointing out along the way perspectives and insights that leave us with a new, personal understanding of these thirty-nine books -- and more importantly, of the God of the Old Testament, who lovingly prepared the way before sending his Son. As Bruce Wilkinson puts it in the Foreword, "I could almost picture (Baylis) as a seasoned rabbi surrounded by a huddle of eager listeners. He doesn't simply teach the Old Testament; it's as if he personally reminisces through it." From Creation to the Cross is one of those rare books that speaks to a wide range of readers, from high school students to homemakers to college professors. This revised and expanded edition of On the Way to Jesus makes this unique and highly readable approach to the first half of the Bible available once again. It is ideally suited for use in Bible study groups.

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Discover Jesus in Every Book of the Bible

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Discover Jesus In Every Book of the Bible

Jesus isnt just found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. His presence can be felt throughout the whole Bible, even in Genesis. The Jesus Bible contains the complete New International Version (NIV) with daily study helps that point to Jesus and show how he fulfilled the prophecies for the Messiah found in the Old Testament. A perfect way to see the overarching narrative of the Bible, The Jesus Bible includes these features:
Presentation page for personalization and gift givingBook introductions explain where Jesus appears in each book of the Bible365 devotions revolve around the sightings of Jesus in the Old Testament and his life and teachings in the New TestamentApplication notes to help apply Jesus teachings to real life todayHundreds of clues highlight the promises/prophesies made about Jesus in the Old Testament and the fulfillments in the New TestamentIndex of the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in ChristList of Jesus miracles and parablesTimeline of Jesus lifeLineage of JesusConcordance to help find key topics, people, and events in the Bible

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What exactly is the Church Growth movement?

This timely volume in the Counterpoints series addresses the history of the movement that has become such an enormous shaping force on the Western church today, and it explores--in a roundtable forum of leading voices--five main perspectives on the classic Church Growth movement:
Effective Evangelism View - presented by Elmer TownsGospel in Our Culture View - presented by Craig Van GelderCentrist View - presented by Charles Van EngenReformist View - presented by Gailyn Van RheenanRenewal View - presented by Howard Snyder
Each view is first presented by its proponent, then critiqued by the co-contributors. The interactive and fair-minded format allows the reader to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each view and draw informed, personal conclusions.

Evaluating the Church Growth Movement concludes with reflections by three seasoned pastors who have grappled with the practical implications of Church Growth.

The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

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Zondervan, Paul E. Engle, Gary L. McIntosh

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The Mother and Child Project Discussion Guide

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A discussion guide specifically written as a companion piece to The Mother and Child Project that will prompt helpful conversations for book clubs, small groups, and others interested in the topic of women and child health throughout the world and how the church community should get involved.

The discussion guide is divided into four sessions-- one to complement each section of the book, The Mother and Child Project.

Each session is divided into two parts: At Homeseveral suggested essays to read from the book prior to the gathering to discussand In Your Small Groupseveral discussion questions, often supplemented by a pertinent quote from the book, plus a follow-up activity to become personally involved.

Dozens of influential leaders have heard the pleas of mothers and children in developing countries. Raising their voices to inspire a movement to increase healthy pregnancies and lower death rates, Melinda Gates, Kay Warren, Bill Frist, Kimberly Williams Paisley, Michael W. Smith and more speak out about why people of faith must get involved in The Mother and Child Project: Raising Our Voices for Health and Hope. Almost 287,000 women die each year because of pregnancy and birth complications. Many orphans are left behind in the wake of this tragedy, and without a mother, many of those children die as well. If only enough people knew. We have the resources to prevent this crisis, but we must take action.

Fortunately, Hope Through Healing Hands, a nonprofit organization promoting awareness for healthy mothers and children worldwide, is already spreading the word. Not only can we save lives, reduce abortions, and decrease death rates, but also we can help build healthier, thriving families and bring stability and sustainability to families, communities and nations.

The question is, will you join them?

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The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context.

To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections:
Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context.Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible.Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved.
This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.

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The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context.

To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections:
Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context.Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible.Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved.
This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.

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Beating the College Debt Trap presents students with a better way to do college. The radically counter-cultural truth is that students dont have to be totally dependent on Mom, Dad, or Uncle Sam to get the most out of college. Graduation on a solid financial foundation is possible. But it will require intentionality, creativity, hard work, and a willingness to delay gratification.

Chediak gets into the nitty-gritty of how to get work and make money during the college years, pay off any loans quickly, spend less, save more, and stay out of debt for good. He also unpacks how to transition from college into career, honor God while achieving financial independence, and use your finances to make a positive, eternally-significant difference in the lives of others.

As a young engineering professor with an aptitude for finances and money management, Chediak has become particularly concerned with the financial health of young adults, especially in light of the ever increasing costs of college. In Beating the College Debt Trap he helps do something about this problem. He engages, in a friendly manner, the real world financial issues that 17-25 year olds face, with clarity, practical help, lots of illustrations, and a little humor, while conveying a distinctly Christian perspective.

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Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better than Jesus Beside You

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Encounter the dynamic presence of God as you learn from pastor and author J. D. Greear how to more fully experience the Holy Spirit within you.

Jesus gave his disciples the audacious promise that the Spirit he would send to live inside them would be even better than if he himself remained beside them. Yet how many of us consider our connection to the Holy Spirit so strong that we would call his presence in us better than Jesus himself walking by our side?

J. D. Greear was the pastor of a rapidly growing church who still felt like he didn't know how to relate to God personally. Though he knew a lot about God, he wasn't as sure about how to walk with God. Furthermore, he felt overwhelmed by the size of the mission Jesus had left for his church. In a world of so much need, what difference could he possibly make? Learning how God dwells in us and empowers us in the Holy Spirit redefined his life and ministry. Ministry became less about working for God and more about letting God work through him. Drudgery was replaced by delight; helplessness was replaced by empowerment.

In Jesus, Continued... Greear explores--in clear and practical language--questions such as:
What does it mean to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit?How can we tell when the Spirit is speaking to us?What do you do when God feels absent?
If you are longing to know God in a vibrant way, Jesus, Continued... has good news for you: That's exactly what God wants for you too. His Spirit stands ready to guide you, empower you, and use you.

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Exploring the Hope and Promise of Eternity

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The Story of Heaven small group video Bible study is a three-week exploration into the hope and promise of Heaven, adapted from Gods Story, Your Story and The Story Adult Curriculum. Pulled straight from the pages of the Bible, this study provides individuals and groups of all sizes the opportunity to learn, discuss, and apply biblical teaching about heaven to their everyday lives.

This Participant's Guide (DVD/digital video sold separately) will open your eyes to the glorious finale of God's masterfully-told story. Discover the heart of God's Story and the joy that comes as you align your story with God's. Max Lucado and Randy Frazee offer a hope-filled perspective of heaven, showing groups:
The power of the words "Christ has risen" and the hope that they provideHow Jesus promises this same type of resurrection to those who follow HimThe promise of new bodies without sickness and without the struggles of the fleshA picture of what the kingdom of God will be like from the book of RevelationHow we can participate in God's ultimate storyHow Jesus will return to earth and live with us in a new earth forever
Sessions include:
Exit Strategy (Lucado)Heavenly Graduation (Lucado)The End of Time (Frazee)
Designed for use with The Story of Heaven Video Study 9780310820284 (sold separately).

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Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection

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Did Jesus really beat death? Thats what Christians for hundreds of years have believed, that Jesus Christ returned to life after death and burial in a stone tomb. To the modern mind, resurrection is utterly implausible, but it was also doubtful to many first-century Greeks, Jews, and even some Christians. With such an incredible assertion at the heart of the Christian faith, its no wonder that some people struggle to believe. Unlike any other book on the resurrection, Raised? encourages you to doubt in order to believe. Too often Christians look down on doubt, but in Christ, we see a person who welcomes doubt and encourages faith. Jonathan Dodson and Brad Watson dont shy away from the hard questions or settle for easy answers. They help you to see how the resurrection offers hope for the future and answers for the life and death questions we all face. I encourage Christians and non-Christians alike to read this book. . . . provocative, illuminating, and succinct.Eileen Flynn, former religion reporter for Austin American-Statesman and Journalism and religion lecturer at the University of Texas Wonderfully demonstrates the plausibility of the resurrection of Jesus and the possibilities for a life of hope.Sean McDonough, professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and author of Christ as Creator: Origins of a New Testament Doctrine

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Six Sessions on Our Relationship with God

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In this six-session study, award-winning author Philip Yancey probes the very heartbeatthe most fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding aspectof our relationship with God: prayer. What is prayer? How does it work? And more importantly, does it work? In theory, prayer is the essential human act, a priceless point of contact between us and the God of the universe. In practice, prayer is often frustrating, confusing, and fraught with mystery. Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? is an exploration of the mysterious intersection where God and humans meet and relate. Designed for use with the video.

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All words fell away. I pushed myself off the path, noticing for the first time the signs of earlier passagethe matted earth, broken twigs. And I knew. My mouth turned cottony. I licked my lips, took three halting steps. My maddening, visual brain churned out pictures of colorless faces on a cold slabDebbie Lille, victim number one; Wanda Deminger, number three . . . Hed been here. Dragged this one right where I now stumbled. Id entered a crime scene, and I could not bear to see what lay at the end. . . . This is a story about evil. This is a story about Gods power. A string of murders terrorizes citizens in the Redding, California, area. The serial killer is cunning, stealthy. Masked by day, unmasked by night. Forensic artist Annie Kingston discovers the sixth body practically in her own back yard. Is the location a taunt aimed at her? One by one, Annie must draw the unknown victims for identification. Dread mounts. Who will be taken next? Under a crushing oppression, Annie and other Christians are driven to pray for Gods intervention as theyve never prayed before. With page-turning intensity, Dead of Night dares to pry open the mind of evil. Twisted actions can wreak havoc on earth, but the source of wickedness lies beyond this world. Annie learns where the real battle takes placeand that a Christians authority through prayer is the ultimate, unyielding weapon.

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Learning From My Children About What Matters Most

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Almost every day, one of Amy Julias children says something or asks something that prompts her to think more carefully: Why Mommy crying? (Marilee, when the family learned a young boy had died of cancer); Booful, Mommy (Beautiful, Mommy, as Penny proclaimed just as Amy Julia was looking in the mirror and critiquing her post-pregnancy body in her head); What lasting mean? (William, when he heard a song in church about God being an everlasting God). These conversations deepen her relationships with her children, but they also deepen and refine her own understanding of what she believes, why she believes it, and what she hopes to pass along to the next generation.Small Talk is a narrative based upon these conversations. It is not a parenting guide. It does not offer prescriptive lessons about how to talk with children. Rather, it tells stories based upon the questions and statements Amy Julias children have made about the things that make life good (such as love, kindness, beauty, laughter, and friendship), the things that make life hard (such as death, failure, and tragedy), and what we believe (such as prayer, God, and miracles).Amy Julia explores three partsbody, mind, spiritas she moves in rough chronological order through the basic questions her kids asked when they were very young to the intellectual and then spiritual questions of later childhood. It invites other parents into these same conversations, with their children, with God, and with themselves. Moving from humorous exchanges to profound questions to heart-wrenching moments, Amy Julia encourages parents to ask themselvesand to talk with their children aboutwhat matters most.

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Terrorism. Same-sex marriage. Debt cancellation. The AIDS pandemic. These are just some of the critical contemporary issues addressed in this book.

Issues Facing Christians Today helps thinking Christians sift through and respond to a sweeping array of complex and pressing topics. Thoroughly revised and updated by Roy McCloughry and fully endorsed by John Stott, this fourth edition continues a two-decades-plus legacy of bringing important current issues under the lens of biblically informed thinking.

Combining a keen global awareness with a gift for penetrating analysis, the authors examine such vital topics as:
Pluralism and Christian witnessCohabitation, environmentalism, and ecological stewardshipWar and peaceAbortion and euthanasiaAnd much more.
An entirely new chapter on bio-engineering has been contributed by Professor John Wyatt of University College London. Including a study guide, Issues Facing Christians Today is essential reading for Christians who wish to engage our culture with insight, passion, and faith, knowing that the gospel is as relevant and deeply needed today as at any time in history. As the culture wars continue, this book will remain a critical contribution, helping to define Christian social and ethical thinking in the years ahead.

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Dr. John R.W. Stott, John Wyatt, Roy McCloughry

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The Handbook to Wisdom guides you through Scripture, focusing on four key areas: praise, promises, wisdom, and truth. Each daily reading draws you deeper into Scripture through three elements: a thought for the day, Scripture to read, and a short prayer. These elements work together to help you internalize the message of each chapter.

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The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context.

To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections:
Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context.Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible.Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved.
This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.