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The Annunciation is an in-depth look at how the Christian message can be communicated in a way that is comprehensible to the postmodern world and yet remain within the classical faith.

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The idea of a state religion is seldom connected to religious freedom and liberal, modern, and democratic states. However, such a situation existed in Norway until 2012, when the Lutheran Church was the state church of Norway. A large majority of the population belonged to the church, even though the percentage in 2013 had fallen to well over seventy-five. The relationship between the church and minority religious movements demanded adaptation and compromises from the minority churches. The Salvation Army's enculturation and accommodation during its 128-year history in Norway illustrates such a situation. The book examines how The Salvation Army accommodated itself both doctrinally as well as practically to the situation of a dominant state church. The study reveals such a close affiliation of Salvationists to the Norwegian Church as a state institution, that it raises the question of whether a concept of civil religion was implicitly present in Salvationists' view of the state church and their own adherence to the church. This situation also raises the question of what constitutes a real church. The book indicates the tension between Lutheran and Salvationist ecclesiology as well as the influence from the Lutheran Church.

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Is «political reconciliation» a new tool for peace-building and justice–in peace processes and other complex social reconstruction efforts-after dictatorship or civil wars? Or is it just another term for established practices like negotiation, conflict resolution, and cooperation? Reconciliation processes after conflict and war can be very different in form and content. Kjell-Ake Nordquist analyzes the concept of reconciliation from a political perspective and outlines an understanding of its characteristics in a comparison with its closest «conceptual relatives»: forgiveness and conflict resolution. In addition, Nordquist specifically addresses the structural dimensions of reconciliation, and formulates an understanding of reconciliation that identifies a specific contribution to the settlement of political conflicts. In this way, political reconciliation has the potential to be an approach that, along with other activities, contributes to more complete and genuine peace processes.

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Clives Staples Lewis (1898-1963) called his theological writings as that «of a layman and an amateur» who merely attempted to restate «ancient and orthodox doctrines.» However, S. Steve Park argues that Lewis's theological reflections are well-informed, thoughtful and weighty. For instance, Lewis's notion of «mere Christianity» consistently shows his commitment to «supernaturalism» (vs. naturalism) and «eucatastrophic salvationism» (vs. ethical developmentalism) in sharp contrast to many prevailing theologians of his time. In this book, the author expounded Lewis's theological writings rather comprehensively and organized the results according to Lewis's signature literary motif of the journey towards home, in four stages: «Away from Home,» «Homeward Turning,» «Home Away from Home,» and «The Final Home.» Under these headings, Lewis's major theological and literary themes find illuminating treatments with rich contents and penetrating analyses. In so doing, the author presents to the readers, probably for the first time, a systematic theology of C. S. Lewis. It turns out that Lewis, more than just a storyteller, was a significant participant in the world of theological reflections, demonstrating himself to be a rather formidable theological mind to be reckoned with.

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The Gospel of Matthew encourages and inspires its audience to practice the true, authentic, and holistic worship required for believers in Jesus to live in the kingdom of heaven. In accordance with all that Jesus taught and exemplified regarding authentic worship, believers are invited to complement their worship of God by worshiping and praying to Jesus as God's beloved Son, who represents «God with us.» They are also invited to complement their ritualistic worship, especially the baptism and Eucharist instituted for them by Jesus, with an ethical worship that extends to others, especially to disciples, children, and «the least ones» with whom Jesus identifies himself, the mercy God desires for a holistic worship. Indeed, a compassionate mercy toward all is the distinctive and noteworthy hallmark that characterizes the theme of worship in the kingdom of heaven, according to the Gospel of Matthew.

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The Gospel of John: Theological-Ecumenical Readings brings together leading Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelical theologians to read and interpret John's Gospel from within their ecclesial tradition, while simultaneously engaging one another in critical dialogue. Combining both theological exegesis and ecumenical dialogue, each chapter is uniquely structured with a main essay by a Catholic, Orthodox, or Evangelical theologian on a section of John's Gospel, followed by two responses from theologians of the other two traditions. The chapter concludes with a final response from the main author. Readers are thus provided with not only a deep and engaging reading of the Gospel of John but also the unfolding of a rich theological-ecumenical dialogue centered on an authority for all Christians, namely, the Gospel of John.

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What does it means to be human? What is the origin of religious beliefs? Why are we moral creatures? Are religious experiences different from our everyday experiences? Is my brain involved in my experiencing God? What is a soul and do I have one? Is religion a result of evolutionary processes? How might psychology and religion relate? Religious experiences (behaviors, thoughts, and emotions) are determined, at least in part, by natural physical processes. As a result, the empirical methods used in psychology to try to identify the natural mechanisms that influence why we act, think, and feel the way we do can provide important insights into the fundamental and universal phenomena of religion. Drawing on current research from a variety of disciplines, Questions in the Psychology of Religion is appropriate for college students studying psychology, pastors as they help their congregations understand how religion and science might go together, and anyone who learns about recent discoveries in psychological science and wonders how these findings pertain to religion and religious experiences.

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Compassionate missions constitutes a growing focus among evangelical denominations and agencies. Because of this, there exists a growing need to be guided by sound principles and best practices. This edited volume sets forth both the biblical foundations and preferred methods for churches wanting to engage in compassion as part of their missionary efforts. The aim throughout is that compassionate missions would be guided by indigenous principles that help establish autonomous local churches, capable of being salt and light in their communities. The contributors to this volume have over 200 years of missions experience. Through their first-hand knowledge of the challenges and pitfalls faced by missionaries engaging in compassion, these authors set forth foundational principles and practical guidelines related to some of the most pressing issues confronting missionaries today. These include HIV/AIDS, UPGs, human trafficking, orphans and vulnerable children, gender issues, and many more. Pastors, missionaries, missions boards, and educators will find this a valuable resource as the church in the twenty-first century continues to engage in the Great Commission.

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God is waiting for each of us to return home! In fact, God is already out in the world searching and inviting each person to take the journey back to God's house. Relational Discipleship: Moving Back Home with God approaches discipleship from a fresh perspective and intentionally draws on biblical principles and examples of discipleship. In this approach, the metaphor of a house is used to describe our journey back to God. Hospitality plays a key factor in how discipleship, from this perspective, warmly calls each person forward in each step. Other modes of discipleship are solely focused on transformation of the disciple. Here, in this model, the transformation of the discipler must occur first. Then, the discipler can be a warm host helping other travelers on the path to God's house. Join in the journey today and see how Relational Discipleship offers the call to move back home with God.

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The time is coming when the world will be radically changed for the better. It will last for a thousand years, bookended by resurrections, first of the just and then of the unjust. Satan will be chained in the abyss, no longer free to influence the nations. The saints will reign alongside the King of kings, Jesus Christ. This is a time that will begin after the return of the Messiah and end with Satan's total defeat and the judgment of sinners. It is the very culmination of history, a transition away from the fallen world into the perfection of the eternal state. This is a time known as the Millennium and the Messianic Kingdom. An understanding of this critical age makes the Bible come together as one metanarrative. It helps tell the story of the Scriptures.

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