LITMIR.BIZ

Our known world, the world of twenty-first century Americans, is shaped and defined by consumer choice. The premise of consumer choice is that somewhere the perfect fit between product and purchaser exists. In the books on changing traditions the consumerist tone prevails–fundamentalists looking for an even more literal interpretation of Scripture, Protestants «going home» to Rome, feminists heading to the womyncentric sacred grove, conservatives fleeing inclusive rites, Catholics embracing the independent seeker church. But the consumerist impulse masks the kind of prayer and discernment necessary for living in Christian community and for following God. Twenty-first century Christians do make choices, but the hope is that they do so because they follow God. How then is one to answer the question of whether to stay or leave? Through meditating on the fruits of the Spirit that Paul addressed to the church at Galatia, a community that had several of its members wondering whether to stay or leave, Bennett and Nussbaum offer sage reflections about what it means to be led into and out of Christian communions.

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The themes of these stories are profoundly human themes, capturing the persistent interaction between God and humankind. These narratives invite us to witness the manner in which God enters human community in all of its complexities, struggles, challenges, fears, and ultimately hope. As the narratives unfold, not only is it clear that God will not be restricted by societal and cultural conventions, but the human journey will be generated by faith and doubt, fear and hope, promise and fulfillment.
Hemchand Gossai not only explores the various themes within a variety of texts, but maintains a constant eye on the implications for the church and contemporary readers. In this regard, some of the literal and particular experiences such as barrenness, wilderness, and wrestling with God are examined as metaphors for our experiences. The richness and texture of metaphors allow us to embrace these stories in a way that makes them our stories.

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Professor Metzger has been a leader in New Testament studies for the past fifty years, through his teaching, his publications, his text-critical work, and his translation work. This volume brings his deep insight to three key epistles, focusing on three fundamental Christian virtues.

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Creation, Covenant, Sin, and Salvation is a primer for biblical theology that is accessible to lay readers of all ages. This is the ideal book for those seeking a short, accessible synopsis of the Christian worldview. Sprinkled with anecdotes and illustrations, the book eases readers into a succinct yet comprehensive discussion of biblical thought. The final chapter explains the authority, practical value, and intended purpose of Scripture. Meadors inspires readers to think critically about the real life believability of the Christian faith, especially its intellectual coherence. In keeping with biblical theology, the book affirms the continuity of biblical revelation from beginning to end before consummating in the resurrection of the dead and God's restoration of all creation.

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The church has been inundated in recent years with literature emphasizing the relational and the value of community. David Auten provides an alternative perspective and counterbalance, bringing our attention back to the other indispensable side to the communal–the individual and the sacredness of the self.
Eccentricity is a sustained meditation on this strange and fundamental fact: there has never been, nor will there ever be, another you. You are inescapably and irrevocably different. But what does your difference mean? And who are «you» really? Weaving together insights from Calvin, Caussade, Jung, Derrida, Wolterstorff, and others, Auten guides the reader through a spiritual exploration of the difference implicit in being a self, the divine calling to make a difference, and the interconnectedness of the two. The result is an arresting bricolage reminding us of the wonderfully eccentric nature of human existence.

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Do you feel that there should be something more to life than what you're experiencing? Do you wonder what you can do to make your relationship with God more satisfying?
In 'The Hunger of the Heart', Ron DelBene responds to these questions that are in the hearts of so many people today. In his well-known and well-loved style of sharing personal, real-life stories in his writing, the author issues a call to spiritual growth to all persons – regardless of where they are in their spiritual journeys.
DelBene describes fourteen stages of spiritual development, using the image of a tree's growth, rather than the typical ladder image for Christian growth. Based on the experiences of thousands of people he has met and counseled, these stage descriptions serve as guidelines for making sense of the yearnings, doubts, anger, and wonder that enter every Christian's life.

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The HIV pandemic has caused serious challenges for the Church as well as for theology. The pandemic has brought enormous human suffering to individuals and has affected families and entire societies. In this context, churches need to listen and to learn, and not least to respond, to thereby mold their own actions and futures. In so doing, this book aims to enable churches to become more HIV and AIDS competent.
Vulnerability, Churches, and HIV includes two kinds of contributions. First, researchers present their thoughts about theology, the church, and HIV. A pastoral letter from the bishops of the Church of Sweden provides a second perspective. The letter makes recommendations to decision-making bodies, patent holders, and decision makers in the pharmaceutical industry. The letter also guides parishes and church workers.
Contributors include editor Goran Gunner, Musa W. Dube, Susanne Rappmann, Kenneth R. Overberg, Edwina Ward, and the bishops of the Church of Sweden.
The book is the first volume in the Church of Sweden Research Series.

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In 1938 the Reverend Henry H. Riggs wrote «Shall We Try Unbeaten Paths in Working for Moslems?» He encouraged the church to help Muslim converts remain inside Islam so that they might not lose their cultural identity. These ideas were soundly denounced by leading missionary scholars of the time: Samuel Zwemer, J. Christy Wilson, and Hendrik Kraemer. In the 1980s Riggs's suggestions bubbled up to the surface with new life in Bangladesh, but the proponents of these views–known as the insider movements (IM)–maintained a low profile. The church did not know what was taking place in Bangladesh until the 1990s when anonymous authors published papers with made-up locations reporting hundreds of thousands of new believers.
Today, proponents of IM support their observations of what God is doing among Muslims with eight biblical passages. If the biblical support is real, it behooves you to support missionaries who advocate for IM; but if the biblical evidence is absent, you will have a difficult decision to make. The purpose of this book is help clarify the insider movements' claims and paradigm by simply examining the Scriptures.

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The doctrine of salvation is the watershed doctrine of Scripture. Flowing from that doctrine will be not only all other doctrine but also personal practice and Christian ministry. The major controversy concerning salvation is whether it is a result of the sovereign grace of God alone or a mixture of «God's part» and «man's part.» Addressing that issue is absolutely critical to the very foundations of Christianity itself.
Whichever one of those premises is correct, we should expect to find it everywhere we look in Scripture, and that is precisely what we find. There is no truth that permeates the Bible more than the doctrines of God's sovereign grace. From Genesis to Revelation, in literally hundreds of verses, these doctrines call, capture, and command our attention.
Of the many books of the Bible we could choose, the Gospel of John is among the most compelling because of its foundational nature. It is there we find some of the most profound teaching on the Doctrines of Grace in all Scripture. Examining more than one hundred verses in John, this small volume presents these great biblical and historical doctrines directly from the lips of our Lord.

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Giving Life to Vision walks leaders through a biblical model for moving plans off paper to living and active ministry. Using the scriptural examples of Joshua, Solomon, Timothy, Esther, and Peter, leaders will be challenged to simply, yet strategically consider what God is calling them to do. They will then have a practical and powerful way to step out and implement God's vision for the Church.
The goal is not bigger buildings or more programs. Our mission is to biblically equip disciples for Jesus Christ. Therefore, must walk forward intentionally as God has directed in order to fulfill this calling.

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