- Table View
- List View
Church After the Corona Pandemic: Consequences for Worship and Theology
by Kyle K. Schiefelbein-GuerreroThis book explores the church’s engagement with digital worship as a result of the pandemic and guides readers in considering how the means of grace distributed online might be theologically framed. Organized around the four-fold pattern of Sunday worship—Gathering, Word, Meal, Sending—this collection of essays provides source material for both theological discernment and practical implementation. Topics include (preparing and) offering a theology of worship no matter the modality, engaging the questions of embodiment as related to the incarnation of Christ, and looking at the theology of church in a digital age. Renowned scholars in the field explore how online worship provides for the visibility of the gospel, how to lament and pray in the midst of pandemic and future crises, and how the mission of the church through its worship can continue regardless of physical restrictions. This timely collection appeals to researchers, professionals, and practitioners in the field.
Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal
by Charles R. SwindollIn THE CHURCH AWAKENING, Charles Swindoll discusses the challenges, struggles, and priorities of the church in the twenty-first century. He reveals the problems inherent in the entertainment-based postmodern church and shows how a return to biblical teaching will restore its strength and impact. Now being replaced by a feel-good message instead of what Christians need to know to stand strong in a world that's lost its way--Swindoll exposes the problems of--and solutions for--the postmodern evangelical church. Just as he opened readers' eyes with his bold statements in The Grace Awakening, now he offers a straightforward volume revealing how to reestablish a life-altering church with Christ as Lord and Master. Illuminating and empowering, THE CHURCH AWAKENING will ignite a revolution in the way Christians "do church" for years to come.
Church Behind the Wire: A Story of Faith in the Killing Fields
by Barnabas MamFrom the oppression and terror of the killing fields in Cambodia, this is the story of how one man's conversion led to a rebirth of faith that brought hope to a nation. Commissioned by Communists to spy on a Christian evangelistic crusade, Barnabas Mam instead discovered Jesus and came to faith in Him. After spending four years in prison camps at the hands of the Khmer Rouge Barnabas emerged as one of only 200 surviving Christians in all of Cambodia. God raised him up to became the foremost evangelist and church planter in a land broken by genocide. An inspiring story on a personal, church, and national level, this is more than a narrative--it's a blueprint for success for church growth of the most powerful kind.
Church Behind the Wire: A Story of Faith in the Killing Fields
by Barnabas MamFrom the oppression and terror of the killing fields in Cambodia, this is the story of how one man's conversion led to a rebirth of faith that brought hope to a nation. Commissioned by Communists to spy on a Christian evangelistic crusade, Barnabas Mam instead discovered Jesus and came to faith in Him. After spending four years in prison camps at the hands of the Khmer Rouge Barnabas emerged as one of only 200 surviving Christians in all of Cambodia. God raised him up to became the foremost evangelist and church planter in a land broken by genocide. An inspiring story on a personal, church, and national level, this is more than a narrative--it's a blueprint for success for church growth of the most powerful kind.
Church Building and Society in the Later Middle Ages (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series #107)
by Gabriel ByngThe construction of a church was undoubtedly one of the most demanding events to take place in the life of a medieval parish. It required a huge outlay of time, money and labour, and often a new organisational structure to oversee design and management. Who took control and who provided the financing was deeply shaped by local patterns in wealth, authority and institutional development - from small villages with little formal government to settlements with highly unequal populations. This all took place during a period of great economic and social change as communities managed the impact of the Black Death, the end of serfdom and the slump of the mid-fifteenth century. This original and authoritative study provides an account of how economic change, local politics and architecture combined in late-medieval England. It will be of interest to researchers of medieval, socio-economic and art history. Offers fascinating insights into the human story behind the construction of England's parish churches, and shows how profoundly political it was. Explores who financed the construction of parish churches and how this changed during the medieval period. Sets medieval architecture in the context of contemporary society, economics and local politics.
Church Chuckles
by Dick HaferAward-winning cartoonist Dick Hafer has compiled a collection of his best-loved cartoons in one book, Church Chuckles, to remind us of the occasional silliness that creeps into all denominations. Only for people who like to laugh, Church Chuckles is sure to be a comic classic.
Church Clothes: Why Your Heart Is Your Sunday Best
by Matthew L. Stevenson IIIHOLINESS ISN'T JUST WHAT YOU SEE ON SUNDAYS.&“I see you over there worshiping but, you know, you&’re going to have to get that piercing out of your eyebrow.&” —CHURCHGOER The Bible says God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7) and we are called to do the same. But there are still Christians who look at the piercings, clothes, and tattoos of people before even looking at their hearts. Not only do their relationships suffer, but their churches do too, as attendance declines and a culture of appearance-based morality creeps in. Apostle Matthew L. Stevenson III exposes the traditions that root us in religiosity and prevent us from spreading the good news. Learn how to: Avoid judging others based on their appearancesExtend the grace God has so richly extended to usRecognize the difference between judgment and discernmentDemonstrate the Gospel in a way that draws others to Jesus Known for reaching people from all walks of life, Stevenson dives into the Word of God and unpacks what it really means to be holy.
Church Comes Home: Start a House Church Network Anywhere
by Dave BarnhartPeople have lost faith in all collective institutions: government, corporations, the media, and the church. We are in the midst of a spiritual disaster, a flood of biblical proportions, and house churches provide lifeboats for people who are seeking a more authentic, life-giving form of Christian community. Many people remember that the early church started in homes, but they don’t understand that house churches are still a legitimate and viable model today. House churches can create the intimacy so many people are hungry for. They can nurture life-changing discipleship for individuals and create justice-centered communities. Networked house churches can become truly diverse, multi-ethnic communities that spread the Gospel by emphasizing practices over programs. These communities de-center the preacher, opting instead for grassroots organizing, but they are not leaderless — they are leader-full. This book provides an alternative model for denominations and established churches to consider. It will help pastors reconnect with the traditions of community organizing, itinerant preaching, and discipleship training that sparked Methodism and other church movements in the United States. Church Comes Home offers alternative ways to look at some of the problems facing our church and our culture.
Church Conflict: From Contention to Collaboration
by Norma Cook EveristYou love your work. You love the people--most of the time. They respect you, most of the time. You work together with colleagues, staff, and laity, with energy and enthusiasm, most of the time. But then something goes wrong: a word spoken in anger, a misunderstanding, and things turn sour. What do you do? How do you deal with conflict, whether it be long or short-term, low or high intensity? Conflict is a part of the human predicament, yet it need not define or control your ministry. This book is designed to help the reader ask certain key questions about the nature and scope of the conflict they are experiencing and, based on the answers to those questions, move beyond conflict. The author lays out the variety of responses to conflict, running the gamut from avoidance to accommodation to compromise to collaboration. Written with the real needs of congregations in mind, this book will serve as a reliable guide to all who wish to move through conflict into a more effective and authentic fulfillment of their calling.
Church Conflict: The Hidden Systems Behind The Fights
by Charles Cosgrove Dennis HatfieldIf church is like a family, it fights like one too! As in any family, conflict in the church family is natural and inevitable. But the way the church family handles its fights can make or break ministry. By using stories and examples of real problems at actual churches, Cosgrove and Hatfield have applied family-systems theory to help us identify the hidden structural boundaries in any group relationship. They show how the dynamics and 'family rules' operating in the informal family-like church system powerfully influence how church members relate to each other.
Church Conflict: The Hidden Systems Behind the Fights
by Charles H. CosgroveIf church is like a family, it fights like one too! As in any family, conflict in the church family is natural and inevitable. But the way the church family handles its fights can make or break ministry. By using stories and examples of real problems at actual churches, Cosgrove and Hatfield have applied family-systems theory to help us identify the hidden structural boundaries in any group relationship. They show how the dynamics and 'family rules' operating in the informal family-like church system powerfully influence how church members relate to each other.
Church Culture: How to Assess It, Shift It, and Shape It
by Jim Ozier Yvette ThibodeauxLearn to understand culture and implement positive change. A church’s culture is the launchpad for everything a church does, the starting point for every ministry. If the culture is “off,” everything else will be out of kilter. Church Culture equips every pastor and leader with the tools necessary for culture change. Authors Ozier and Thibodeaux, both experts in this area of church leadership, teach the basic concepts so readers can understand what culture is and why it’s so crucial. Even more importantly, they provide a step-by-step process leaders can use to diagnose and gently shift the culture in their church. For some churches, wholesale change is in order, but most need only to make some crucial adjustments. The book provides a full set of tools for implementing the process in any setting. The pastor's top priority is creating and maintaining the church’s culture; Ozier and Thibodeaux make the tasks easy to understand and show leaders how to proceed capably and carefully.
Church Diversity
by Scott WilliamsDiversity in the Church Matters to God The local Church is the hope of the world Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best over 45 years ago: "We must face the sad fact that at 11 o'clock on Sunday morning, when we stand to sing... we stand in the most segregated hour in America." What an unfortunate reality that many still face today. Have you ever been asked the question, "Is your church a white church or a black church?"...No, it's God's Church! Church Diversity discusses topics such as: How we can begin to implement change today What key insights, strategies and practical tips can help Who are the leading voices in diversity and what can they teach the Church This resource is a tool to foster the tough conversations and encourage decision-making to change the face and heart of the Church. There is already a community out there passionate about this topic and moving the Church forward. Hundreds of them uploaded their photos and can be seen throughout the pages of this book. Their twitter names are also included so you can begin connecting with them today! WE ARE CHURCH DIVERSITY "Whatever racial woes we face in America, they cannot be dealt with by politicians or Washington D.C., but rather by the local church...help our nation navigate through this critical and much needed conversation on race." - J.C. Watts, Jr., Former Member of Congress "...Scott Williams is ever seeking to see this gift opened and embraced. His book, like his life and ministry, is an invitation to the most rewarding of all human journeys." - Jim Hanon, Writer/Director End of the Spear
Church Dogmatics The Doctrine Of Reconciliation, Volume 4, Part 1: The Subject-matter And Problems Of The Doctrine Of Of Reconciliation (Church Dogmatics Ser. #Volume 1)
by Karl BarthDescribed by Pope Pius XII as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas, the Swiss pastor and theologian, Karl Barth, continues to be a major influence on students, scholars and preachers today. Barth's theology found its expression mainly through his closely reasoned fourteen-part magnum opus, Die Kirchliche Dogmatik. Having taken over 30 years to write, the Church Dogmatics is regarded as one of the most important theological works of all time, and represents the pinnacle of Barth's achievement as a theologian. T&T Clark International is now proud to be publishing the only complete English translation of the Church Dogmatics in paperback.
Church Fellowship: Working Together for the Truth (People's Bible Teachings)
by John F BrugWhat is church fellowship in Scripture?Church Fellowship is a three-part examination of an important doctrine—taught by God in the Bible—that has led to separations in church bodies, congregations, and families.This book seeks to help you understand why certain Christian churches practice closed Communion and don’t want their members and church families participating in lodges and scout troops. It reviews the historic debate in the Lutheran church about church fellowship and teaches you how to show love for others as you hold to what God says in his Word.The People’s Bible Teachings is a series of books on all the main teachings of the Bible. Following the pattern set by The People’s Bible series, these books are written for all Christians in an easy-to-read manner. The authors of The People’s Bible are all pastors and professors who have had years of experience teaching others about the Bible.
Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods
by Jonathan Brooks Sho Baraka"There are no God-forsaken places, just church-forsaken places." —Jon Fuller, OMF InternationalChurch Forsaken
Church Girl: A Gospel Vision to Encourage and Challenge Black Christian Women
by Sarita T. LyonsReignite your purpose in Christ, restore your dignity, heal your pain, transform your rest, and learn how to flourish in today&’s secular world as a Black Christian woman—from Bible teacher, speaker, and psychotherapist Dr. Sarita Lyons.&“Masterfully intertwines the narratives of Scripture with the lived experiences of Black women, addressing with great wisdom the challenges we face.&”—Lisa Fields, CEO of Jude 3 Project and author of When Faith Disappoints Black women are the hidden figures in the church. Despite at times being rendered invisible, uninvited, and unprotected in a racist and sexist world, they are valued image-bearers and influential instruments in God&’s redemptive plan.Church Girl invites you, as a Black woman, on a journey from the garden to the present day. Your unique story as a Black woman lies within the grand narrative of Scripture, and the message of the gospel is the light, lens, and love you need to help you see and live as God intends.Church Girl helps answer some of your most internal pressing questions:• How do I understand my identity in light of Scripture?• How should I think about my purpose?• How can I thrive despite the opposition from racism and sexism?• How are Black women hurt in the church and how can I heal?• Why am I always exhausted from working and where can I find real peace and rest?• How can I flourish in a secular world and live out my faith with conviction and integrity?With compassion and wisdom, Dr. Sarita Lyons invites Black women to tackle the unique issues they face in the church with prophetic boldness, priestly compassion, a church leader&’s wisdom, a counselor's insight, and a sister's relatability and love.
Church Government: A Zondervan Digital Short
by Wayne A. GrudemDerived from Wayne Grudem’s perennial bestseller, Systematic Theology, this digital short presents a detailed overview of the Bible’s teaching on church government and the choosing of church officers, along with a summary of the options currently available. While acknowledging that church government is not a core doctrine on par with the doctrines of salvation or the person and work of Jesus, Grudem maintains that the organization of the church, as Christ’s body on earth, is important. Informative and fair-minded, Church Government is a useful resource for pastors and church lay leaders as well as anyone wanting to better understand this foundational matter of Christian praxis.
Church Growth in Britain: 1980 to the Present (Routledge Contemporary Ecclesiology)
by David GoodhewThere has been substantial church growth in Britain between 1980 and 2010. This is the controversial conclusion from the international team of scholars, who have drawn on interdisciplinary studies and the latest research from across the UK. Such church growth is seen to be on a large scale, is multi-ethnic and can be found across a wide range of social and geographical contexts. It is happening inside mainline denominations but especially in specific regions such as London, in newer churches and amongst ethnic minorities. Church Growth in Britain provides a forceful critique of the notion of secularisation which dominates much of academia and the media - and which conditions the thinking of many churches and church leaders. This book demonstrates that, whilst decline is happening in some parts of the church, this needs to be balanced by recognition of the vitality of large swathes of the Christian church in Britain. Rebalancing the debate in this way requires wholesale change in our understanding of contemporary British Christianity.
Church Harvest Mess-tival (Tales from the Back Pew)
by Mike ThalerWho wants to go to church on Halloween? And my costume has to be a Bible character?! With no ghosts, goblins, or gore, it's bound to be boring…right?
Church History ,Volume One: The Rise and Growth of the Church in Its Cultural, Intellectual, and Political Context
by Everett FergusonChurch History offers a unique contextual view of how the Christian church spread and developed. It did so not in a vacuum, but in a setting of times, cultures, and events that both influenced and were influenced by the church. Church History looks closely at the integral link between the history of the world and that of the church. Volume one explores the development of the church from the days of Jesus to the years prior to the Reformation. Filled with maps, charts, and illustrations, it offers overviews of the Roman, Greek, and Jewish worlds; insights into the church’s relationship to the Roman empire, with glimpses into pagan attitudes toward Christians; the place of art and architecture, literature and philosophy, both sacred and secular; and much more, spanning the time from the first through the thirteenth centuries. Volume One Content Overview 1. The Setting for the Story’s Beginning 2. Jesus and the Beginnings of the Church 3. The Subapostolic Age 4. The Church and the Empire 5. Heresies and Schisms of the Second Century 6. The Defense Against Rival Interpretations 7. The Fathers of the Old Catholic Church and Their Problems 8. Church Life in the Second and Third Centuries 9. Development of the Church During the Third Century 10. Diocletian and Constantine: On the Threshold of the Fourth Century 11. The Church in the Fourth Century: Doctrine, Organization, and Literature 12. The Church in the Fourth and Early Fifth Centuries: Monasticism, Expansion, Life, and Worship 13. Christological Controversies to Chalcedon 14. Augustine, Pelagius, and Semipelagianism 15. Transitions to the Middle Ages: Germanic Migrations, Doctrinal Developments, and the Papacy 16. Eastern and Western Churches in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries 17. The Eastern Church from the Seventh to Eleventh Centuries 18. The Western Church from the Seventh to Ninth Centuries 19. Decline and Renewal of Vitality in the West: The Ninth to Eleventh Centuries 20. The Papal Reform Movement and the First Crusade 21. Intellectual Revival: The Rise of Scholasticism 22. Monastic, Literary, Political, and Cultural Activities in the Twelfth Centuries 23. The Glory of the Western Medieval Church: The Thirteenth Century 24. Portents of Decline
Church History In Plain Language
by Bruce L. ShelleyWith more than 275,000 copies sold, this is the story of the Church for today's readers. The third edition of Shelley's classic one-volume history of the church brings the story of Christianity into the twenty-first century. This latest edition of the book takes a close look at therapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphere,addresses the decline in traditional mainline denominations, examines theinfluence of technology on the spread of the gospel, and discusses howChristianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world. The concise book provides an easy-to-read guide to church history withintellectual substance. The new edition of Church History in Plain Languagepromises to be the new standard for readable Church History. Featuresinclude: Includes contemporary developments related to the spread of the gospel Discusses how technology has an impact on how the church worships and grows Covers the explosionof Christianity in the Southern hemisphere
Church History in Plain Language
by Dr Bruce L. ShelleyWith more than 315,000 copies sold, this is the story of the church for today's readers. The fourth edition of Shelley's classic one-volume history of the church brings the story of Christianity into the twenty-first century. This latest edition of the book takes a close look at the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphere, addresses the decline in traditional mainline denominations, examines the influence of technology on the spread of the gospel, and discusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world. This concise book provides an easy-to-read guide to church history with intellectual substance. The new edition of Church History in Plain Language promises to be the new standard for readable church history.Features include: Includes contemporary developments related to the spread of the gospelDiscusses how technology has an impact on how the church worships and growsCovers the explosion of Christianity in the southern hemisphere
Church History in Plain Language Workbook
by Bruce Shelley Stacey Shelley LingleThis workbook is designed to accompany the fifth edition of Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language.Following the textbook's structure, this workbook offers discussion questions for group and personal reflection, assessments, activities, and resources for further study, all of which reinforce the textbook's teaching and support the students' learning experience.The newest edition of Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language brings the story of global Christianity into the twenty-first century. In this fifth edition, Marshall Shelley assembled a team of historians, historical theologians, and editors to revise and update his father's classic text. As a result, it now includes important stories of the development of Christianity in Asia, India, and Africa, both in the early church as well as in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It also highlights the stories of women and non-Europeans who significantly influenced the development of Christianity but whose contributions are often overlooked in overviews of church history.Covering recent events, this book also:Details the rapid growth of Christianity in the southern hemisphereExamines the influence of technology on the spread of the gospelDiscusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the worldTogether with this workbook companion, the new edition of Church History in Plain Language provides an easy-to-read guide to global Christianity and promises to set a new standard for readable church history.
Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition
by Bruce ShelleyOver 330,000 copies sold. This is the story of the church for today's readers.Bruce Shelley's classic history of the church brings the story of global Christianity into the twenty-first century. Like a skilled screenwriter, Shelley begins each chapter with three elements: characters, setting, plot. Taking readers from the early centuries of the church up through the modern era he tells his readers a story of actual people, in a particular situation, taking action or being acted upon, provides a window into the circumstances and historical context, and from there develops the story of a major period or theme of Christian history. Covering recent events, this book also:Details the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphereAddresses the decline in traditional mainline denominationsExamines the influence of technology on the spread of the gospelDiscusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the worldFor this fifth edition, Marshall Shelley brought together a team of historians, historical theologians, and editors to revise and update this father's classic text. The new edition adds important stories of the development of Christianity in Asia, India, and Africa, both in the early church as well as in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It also highlights the stories of women and non-Europeans who significantly influenced the development of Christianity but whose contributions are often overlooked in previous overviews of church history.This concise book provides an easy-to-read guide to church history with intellectual substance. The new edition of Church History in Plain Language promises to set a new standard for readable church history.