LITMIR.BIZ

The Church Member is written as a handbook. It is a collection of exegetical studies on strategic passages that cover the biblical expectations for those who profess Jesus Christ. It provides sound interpretation to some of the most controversial issues in the church today such as baptism, the Lord's Supper, worship through music, and church leadership. While it is written from a Southern Baptist perspective, this book is the result of experiences from a variety of other denominations. It captures what the Scriptures teach regarding membership in a «church» and ultimately reveal that church is more than something a believer does; it is something he is. If you are interested in understanding your place in the body of Christ, this book is for you!

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The population of the United States is changing. By 2042, U.S. census figures indicate that the majority racial population will no longer be white. In addition, churches are dying as congregants age and fail to add younger members to sustain their ministry. These shifting demographics represent a significant challenge and opportunity for the church. Derek Chinn proposes an overlooked solution: join congregations together to create a multiracial church. For this unique concept, Chinn offers a biblically grounded and practical perspective on what it takes to make this ministry approach viable. The heart of this ministry approach is redemption–of tired or shrinking ministries, of assets that God has given His people to advance the local church, and of brokenness due to racial and ethnic differences. This book is for church leaders, church planters, cross-cultural ministry leaders, and those involved with urban missions.

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How might women in the Bible tell their stories if they were prompted to do so by Eve Ensler's controversial play, The Vagina Monologues? This collection imagines some answers to that question. The monologues herein are written by a variety of authors, including scholars, undergraduates, clergy, and laywomen; the content of the narratives reflects this variety, being at times faithful or irreverent, tragic or even funny. All seek to give twenty-first-century voices to women in canonical texts–including the Hebrew Bible, Deuterocanonical books, and New Testament–who are often speechless, nameless, or otherwise marginalized. Not for the faint of heart, these monologues not only end the silences but also add flesh and bone to characters whose experiences have too easily been justified, metaphorized, or altogether ignored. By naming the torn places in these women's stories, this volume invites readers to encounter both the biblical characters and their contemporary interpreters with an attitude of compassionate listening. Our hope is that such compassionate listening may contribute not only to more just readings of sacred texts, but also to the mission of Eve Ensler and V-Day to end global violence against women and girls.

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Struck from Behind is a memoir–but not the usual narrative of events. James Howell tells intriguing stories from childhood, romantic life, travel, friendships, tragedies, and wonders, and how God was there, although unnoticed or uninvited at the time. By sharing in retrospect how he now understands God's presence in seemingly mundane moments, we begin to sense something of God's way in the world, and in our own lives.
Howell has been a successful pastor and published theologian. In Struck from Behind he opens up his own private life as a window into God's hidden activity. When he remembers, then we too remember God, and begin to notice, and become grateful.

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Critiques of the environmental ramifications of the early Genesis narrative by environmental thinkers such as Aldo Leopold, Ian McHarg, and Lynn White underscore a long-standing tension between the environmental movement and Western Christianity. The evangelical community, especially, has been at odds with the environmental movement, in grounding its theology of human relations to nature on the Genesis narrative–a narrative the environmental community views generally as contributing negatively to environmental matters. Redacted Dominionism is a literal interpretation of the early Genesis narrative that recognizes human relations to nature are based on theocentric themes. Redacted Dominionism understands humanity as initially given dominion over nature, by virtue of the image of God in humanity, but that human disobedience to God tarnished that image, and human qualification for dominion was lost. Post-fall, the dominion mandate is never repeated in Genesis and seems even to be replaced. Redacted Dominionism offers an important biblical approach to understanding human responsibility to God for how we interact with His creation.

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There are many books on the use of the Old Testament in the New. This one takes a practical approach to the subject, inviting the reader to explore the relationship between the two testaments in the Bible through a series of different lenses. –The text form of the Old and New Testaments –The presence or absence of introductory formulae –The selection of texts by New Testament writers –The application of Old Testament texts to the Gospel facts –The combination of several Old Testament texts –The history of interpretation of these texts in ancient Judaism –The story or narrative that is indicated by the use of these texts –The function of the Old Testament citations in the New Testament writings Each section includes practical exercises that will help the reader become a participant in the discussion. Through these eight lenses the reader is invited to explore this fascinating subject, and through it to discover what C. H. Dodd called «the substructure of New Testament theology.»

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Abundant life. Who doesn't want to live life to the fullest? Jesus offers us life to the fullest, but few of us feel we have attained it. Jesus calls us to be in the world, but not of it, because we have been made citizens of God's Kingdom. Too often, however, we get too drawn into the world's ways. Often our culture can enslave us.
Cultural Enslavement: Breaking Free into Abundant Living takes a look at ways we become captives of our culture as well as ways to break free of them. Abundant living is Christ's desire for all who follow Him. Discover how to throw off the shackles that hold you back and how to experience life more fully.

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How do I know what is true? Can we really be certain of what the Bible says? What will happen to me when I die?
In moments of honesty, has there been any person who hasn't entertained these questions? Moreover, when these thoughts plague the mind, it's tempting to believe that no one else considers these things; no one else experiences the same fears. This book–a collection of letters–bears witness that such distress is not new, and does not need to be borne alone. Each correspondence is real, and is based around a different person's struggle with the weighty issues–free will, doubts of salvation, the truth of the Bible, and finding peace. The contributors are nothing alike–different ages, education, backgrounds, and circumstances. Yet they are all hurting. In response, they are each provided with answers. These answers aren't from a radical new approach. No innovative method of self-help is revealed. What is put forward is the simple truth that is found in God's Word, and in a comprehensive, real, and straightforward way. Misconceptions and fallacies are broken down, and biblical guidance is offered, addressing difficult issues that apply to both Christians and non-Christians alike.

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Everyone in this world must deal with loss. The hardest loss is losing those we love. There are not many books written about a son's love for his mother, but here in Praying With Mom, Michael Chung chronicles the journey of a son through the last years of his mother's life. Through prayer, tears, time, and love, this book is a «voyage of the soul» into how a son spent the last years with his mother and how his God brought him through it all. Many people have trouble with their faith when experiencing the trials of loss, and some even abandon it, being angry at God for not doing more. In Praying With Mom, the author discusses from his heart and soul how he dealt with the suffering of losing the love of his mother.

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Church attendance in the United States and other Western nations is rapidly declining, and the losses are not solely because «young people don't like church.» Baby boomers are also leaving, frequently because the church leadership assumes a believer's faith and how it plays out is constant over a lifetime. Boomers are a transition generation, undergoing profound faith journeys as they transition through life's phases. Many churches struggle to connect with people on a journey because the corporate, modernist mindset doesn't have room for changes and journey.
Good Faith Hunting is a book of hope for church leaders and major influencers who want to celebrate the faith journeys of baby boomers and others through life, allegiance, and experience, as an opportunity to show the love of Christ as they sojourn alongside people in their community.

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