Every year, more congregations in North America close their doors. Can a near-dead church be revived and renewed? Marketing campaigns or managerial innovation aren't going to work. We need theological and pastoral answers that come from the on-the-ground realities of churches. Joseph Lear has seen first-hand God breathe new life into a dying congregation. Resurrecting Worship is a pastoral theology of renewal for the local church, offered through the story of one near-dead congregation bec...

The apostle Paul is recognized as the paramount example of what it means to be a Christian missionary committed to the cause of Christ. In his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, we read of the struggles he endured in establishing the church in Corinth. These struggles gave rise to his expose of his own paradoxical life and ministry, based on his firm conviction that strength only comes through weakness. Paul, in his confessed weakness, poured out his life as a participant in the sufferings...

Since the 1960s, biblical scholars have noted a relationship between eschatology and ethics in Luke-Acts, but to date there has been no substantive study of the relationship between these themes. What Shall We Do? offers such a study. Lear observes and develops a logic that Luke--Acts presents that begins with eschatological expectation and ends with a particular pattern of life, especially with regard to possessions. He makes the bold claim that Luke has not given up on eschatological exp...

This guide provides a brief, concise overview of personal Bible study for the layperson. Long-time Bible teacher Robert West gives insight into the types, tools, and techniques of personal study, offering both practical guidance and encouragement to pursue the command of 2 Timothy 2:15 ("Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth"). Covering topics such as the inductive method, word studies, commentari...

High-Interest Guide Sure to Spark Curiosity and ConversationA surprising number of well-known Bible verses are commonly misused and misunderstood. Whether intentionally or not, people take important verses out of context, and pastor and Bible scholar Eric J. Bargerhuff has seen the effects: confusion, faulty decisions, sin being dismissed, and more. With a deft touch, he helps readers understand and apply sound principles of interpretation and application of twenty familiar verses....

The church needs a strong reminder of the glorious weight of Scripture. The Bible is preached from the pulpit less and less, and we need to return to what is most important. The Gospel Coalition seeks to address this need. It exists “to be robustly biblical, richly theological, constantly elevating what God himself in his own Word makes central.”Stemming from the coalition’s 2009 National Conference and edited by D. A. Carson, this book explores the great responsibility of being en...

Proclaiming the gospel is without a doubt the most important task of pastoral ministry, yet often other, seemingly more urgent activities obscure it. From time to time all pastors and preachers need to be reminded of the primacy of the gospel.Preaching the Cross does just this. It is a call to expository, gospel-centered preaching as the center of pastoral ministry. This volume showcases an unprecedented combination of pastors representing a variety of evangelical traditions. Thoug...

This book is part of the Foundation Series by Pastor Ron Phillips. The series will contain books describing the basic foundational truths for the Spirit-filled believer. An Essential Guide to Speaking in Tongues will describe the author's own experience with speaking in tongues. The author brings great balance to this topic and helps readers to understand that speaking in tongues is a blessing of God that gives us the ability to boldly approach God's throne with the Holy Spirit's power and...

In this concise and compelling handbook, respected evangelical theologian Charles Ryrie writes to Bible students and practicing pastors alike about the importance of communicating the doctrines of Scripture. Clearly, he explains why doctrinal truth from the Bible must be a key part of every preacher's message. Using practical illustrations and applications, Ryrie addresses the reasons why so many people neglect doctrine and offers helpful ways of embracing doctrine through the use of major...

Delve Deeper into God's WordIn this verse-by-verse commentary, Robert Gundry offers a fresh, literal translation and a reliable exposition of Scripture for today's readers.In this letter Paul explains his circumstances, thanks Christians living in Philippi for a recent financial gift, exhorts them to practice Christian virtues, and warns against heretics.Pastors, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and laypeople will welcome Gundry's nontec...

Who is the Holy Spirit?God the Father is revealed in the Bible through his creation, his acts in history, and through metaphors and prophecies. Jeus Christ, the Son of God, is described in the New Testament gospels as a historical person who was seen, heard, and touched by his disciples. But God the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is far more mysterious and elusive.This studyguide offers biblical insights to help you...

Hidden in the Christian Bible, is an ancient mystery: the rise of an altered specie, made a little lower than angels. A capsule diffuses particles that seem like pico chips into their nervous system; slowly turning them into quantum humanoids.The particles supercharged the brain of this altered specie into an organic quantum CPU in pursuit of perceptive superiority. They are capable of love of hate of kindness and of jealousy. This is the story of the #EFANIs. Finding themselves in a multi...