An Introduction to the Theology and Themes of RomansThe book of Romans, often regarded as one of the greatest letters ever written, provides a thorough explanation of Christian doctrine. Yet, in explaining Paul’s gospel, Romans is not just for preachers and people who have not yet come to faith. Paul’s purpose in Romans is to strengthen believers with the gospel of God thereby equipping them for every good work, to live holy lives, be protected from evil, and to li...

An Introduction to the Dominant Biblical-Theological Themes of the Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke is a wonderfully detailed account of the ministry and miracles of Jesus Christ. What many readers don’t realize is that Luke, who was likely a Gentile, wrote his Gospel with a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament―pointing to Jesus’s life, ministry, and death as the culmination of Old Testament expectations and prophecy.In this addition to the New Testament...

Mobilizing Church-Based Counseling, the first book in the Church-Based Counseling series, provides a framework for guiding churches through the process of building a volunteer-led counseling ministry.Many churches would like to start a counseling ministry, but they don’t know where to start. Mobilizing Church-Based Counseling offers direction to churches for creating a ministry built around lay-led counseling groups and mentoring. Based on proven models used in his own congregation...

Powerful, trustworthy… beautiful?Samuel G. Parkison makes a startling claim: Jesus is the most beautiful man to ever exist. His defence is theoretical and experiential: he knows him to be ultimate beauty and he has experienced him to be so.Deconstructing cultural notions that beauty is subjective or sentimental, Parkison constructs an impressive picture of God’s breathtaking beauty. On this firm foundation, the only building to rise is one that testifies to...

“Drink deeply from this stream that flows from the well of Scripture, that the Lord might make you more like Christ.”In Worshiping on the Way, Pastor Jonathan Cruse explains how the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120–134) were divinely inspired to grow and sustain Israel in their journey to Jerusalem. Today, these same songs give the Christian church a glimpse of the new Jerusalem and draw our hearts heavenward. Explore these Psalms to enrich your corp...

Understanding Luke’s Narrative in the Book of ActsThe book of Acts is unlike any other in Scripture; it has no rival in terms of a book spanning so many different lands. Written by a Gentile, it recounts the birth of the church age and the lives of early Christians that serve as lasting examples for the church today. When believers see how these events worked together to fulfill God’s promises, they gain a better understanding of the Trinitarian heart of Acts....

Counselor Brad Hambrick provides a guided process to being honest with God about your pain to restore and deepen your relationship with him.No one gets mad at God for something small. When we’re angry with God, it is because we’ve faced something immensely hard. Anger is an often-overlooked part of grieving, and as such, is an appropriate response to profoundly painful events. While we are often prone to interpret our anger about intense suffering as being at

Understanding Mark in the Context of the Old and New TestamentsThe book of Mark―the first and shortest Gospel written―serves as both a historical and theological account, connecting Jesus to the whole storyline of the Bible. Mark writes against the backdrop of the Old Testament and draws from other New Testament writers, specifically Peter and Paul, to articulate many themes that are found in the rest of the New Testament.In this addition to the New Testame...

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things”―Romans 8:32As Christians, “blessing” pervades our everyday lives―from testimonies recounting God’s provision, to praise songs, to wishing someone well. The term has been so integrated into our everyday vocabulary that it is rarely considered carefully. Many people think that blessing is described as either physical (Genesis 1:22) or spi...

Join New Testament Scholar Thomas Schreiner as He Explores the Meaning and Purpose of GalatiansIn a time marked by confusion and change, the pathway to salvation for the Galatians seemed unclear. While the false teachers contended for circumcision and obedience to the law as necessary for justification before God, Paul presented the truth of the gospel and redrew the lines of salvation around the cross of Jesus Christ.In this addition to the New Testament T...

For the Christian, waiting is never for nothing. Since the fall, suffering has been a universal part of human experience. While the specific trials we face change, we all long for hope in the face of many burdens. No group of writers in church history grasped this better than the Puritans. In Wait and Hope, Jacob Tanner reminds us how the Puritans endured immense suffering in various aspects of the Christian life— from facing persecution and death to pursuing assurance through trials. By l...

Transformative Friendships shares seven simple questions that will help you be intentional with your relationships and offers a springboard to deepening and strengthening friendships that will enrich your life.Building meaningful friendships is not as easy as we wish it was. A culture that is lonelier and more disconnected than ever proves how hard it can be. In Transformative Friendships, counselor Brad Hambrick encourages reader...