A womanist church has great power to transform church and society, primarily because womanist theology centers the experiences of Black women while working for the survival and wholeness of all people and all creation. Experiences of the triple oppression of racism, sexism, and classism give Black women an epistemological insight into recognizing injustice and creating solutions that benefit all. The Gathering is unique, the only church founded and identified as "womanist," applying womani...

Are you a follower of Christ eager to understand the distinctive identity and shared values of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)? Whether you are new to the tradition or have long called this movement home, you may find yourself navigating questions about what differentiates various Christian groups or how Disciples maintain unity amidst diverse beliefs and practices. In a world that often feels polarized and fragmented, it's natural to seek a faith that deeply connects with today...

This book integrates womanist biblical interpretation with trauma theory while closely examining survival and the language of survival in the Hebrew Bible.While survival is often a theme lifted when exploring Esther, the focus is typically on Jewish survival. This books centers the experiences of non-Jewish women and girls, specifically the virgin girls taken with Esther and Zeresh, the wife of Haman, amplifying their presence and reading their narratives alongside...

Bitter the Chastening Rod follows in the footsteps of the first collection of African American biblical interpretation, Stony the Road We Trod (1991). Nineteen Africana biblical scholars contribute cutting-edge essays reading Jesus, criminalization, the enslaved, and whitened interpretations of the enslaved. They present pedagogical strategies for teaching, hermeneutics, and bible translation that center Black Lives Matter and black culture. Biblical narratives, news medi...

Renowned pastor and bestselling author of The Prodigal Prophet Timothy Keller shares his most provocative and illuminating message yet.It is commonly thought in secular society that the Bible is one of the greatest hindrances to doing justice. Isn’t it full of regressive views? Didn’t it condone slavery? Why look to the Bible for guidance on how to have a more just society? But Timothy Keller challenges these preconceived beliefs and presents the Bible as ...

What makes for a healthy church? A large congregation? Plentifulparking? Vibrant music?You may have read books on this topic before-but not like thisone. This new expanded edition of Nine Marks of a Healthy Church isnot an instruction manual for church growth. It is a pastor'srecommendation of how to assess the health of your church usingnine crucial qualities that are neglected by many of today'schurches.Whether you're a church leader or an involved member of yourcongregat...

Prolific author, college and seminary professor, and co-founder of Liberty University, Elmer Towns has written a second Teaching Series consisting of six profound books designed to stir your spirit and increase your biblical knowledge: Grandparents in the Bible; The Ten Commandments According to Jesus; 7 Indispensable Words for Effective Prayer; Habits of the Heart; When God Is Silent; What Is Right? Intriguing titles with even more intriguing content.What Is Right? Bi...

Why cell church? Is it because David Cho's church, the largest church in the history of Christianity, is a cell church? Is it because someone said the number twelve will bring blessings and growth? Is it because cell church is the strategy that many "great" churches are using? Ralph Neighbour repeatedly says, “Theology must breed methodology.” This book sets forth the biblical theology for cell based ministry. Without biblical truth, we don’t have a firm under-pinning upon which we can han...

Ron Sider asserts that "by their daily activity, most 'Christians' regularly commit treason. With their mouths they claim that Jesus is their Lord, but with their actions they demonstrate their allegiance to money, sex, and personal self-fulfillment."In this candid and challenging book, Sider addresses an embarrassing reality: most Christians' lives are no different from the lives of their secular neighbors. Hedonism, materialism, racism, egotism, and many other undesirable traits a...

"Church is not a meeting you attend or a place you enter," write pastors Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. "It's an identity that is ours in Christ. An identity that shapes the whole of life so that life and mission become 'total church.'" With that as their premise, they emphasize two overarching principles to govern the practice of church and mission: being gospel-centered and being community-centered. When these principles take precedence, say the authors, the truth of the Word is upheld, t...

Taking a stand over the gender-issue divideAuthor and New Testament scholar Michael Bird was formerly in favor of distinct gender roles in ministry, a viewpoint commonly called “complementarianism.” But inconsistencies in practice and careful biblical study convinced him to rethink his position.Originally published as a short ebook,Bourgeois Babes, Bossy Wives, and Bobby Haircuts offersan engaging, incisive perspective on biblical gender equality a...

How can we make the gospel central to our lives?For decades, Stanley Hauerwas has been provoking Christians with his insistence that if they would only follow their Master, it would impact all areas of life, from the personal to the societal.The lanky Texan whom Time magazine dubbed “America’s theologian” for his zinging insights into today’s ethical questions says Christians should stop bemoaning their loss of cultural and politic...