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Although it seems more and more churches are striving for megachurch status, the simple fact is, defined by attendance and membership, most of todays churches of all denominations are classified as small or medium-sized. Not blessed with large membership rolls and budgets, these churches have issues unique to them.In his book, Beyond the Plateau: Hope and Help for the Small and Medium Church, author Dick Sisk helps pastors and members of those churches find an edge, formula, or path to finding renewed church growth. Sisk explains the unchanging principles that affect church health. When church health is strong, so is church growth. He discusses principles such as the Prayer Principle, the Evangelism Principle, and the Visibility Principle. After learning about the principles, youll be able to contextualize, adapt, and implement them in your situation and see what God does.If you are tired of trying to press your situation into someone elses mold, one that doesnt fit, Beyond the Plateau: Hope and Help for the Small and Medium Church will be a sound investment of your time.Dr. Sisk not only addresses the issues, he offers helpful and useful solutions for pastors and leaders to employ. This book is a great gift to the church and those who lead them.Danny Sinquefield, Senior Pastor,Faith Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.Ephesians 6:10-11Dont be fooled! Christians are in a spiritual battle. The world may ridicule the notion of a spiritual realm, but Christians know that it is both real and potent. As the last days draw ever closer, we need a deeper understanding of this to help us prepare for the great battles that lie ahead for believers. In the Bible, the book of Ephesians gives the clearest definition of the spiritual war we face; author Rich Robletto has written The Knights of Ephesus to offer readers fresh perspective and profound insight on how we are to put on the whole armour of God as he describes the nature of our struggle. Backed extensively by appropriate, relevant passages from the Bible, Robletto reminds Christians that Satan is real. He cautions that unless we fully grasp what our role is, along with the fact that Jesus Christ has given us all we need to withstand and ultimately triumph over evil, we will be woefully underprepared and overwhelmed by Satans wiles. The Knights of Ephesus effectively highlights the great insight provided by the book of Ephesians and offers instruction on how to prepare for war and how we are to achieve victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The nature of a preacher is that of a herald, one commissioned and sent by another to speak his message in his behalf to a recipient. The Weight of Preaching develops a workable theology of the preachers task in this role, commissioned by God to proclaim the Good News. Even in the Wests postmodern culture, where people have come to doubt the idea of objective truth, the preacher still serves to herald Gods enduring truth.Author Rick Harrington builds upon his service as a senior pastor, his doctoral study of preaching, and his exposure to multiple cultures to fashion a guide valuable to younger lay leaders, seminarians, and pastors alike, as well as for Christians engaged in the serious exploration of preaching. Speaking primarily to readers in the Reformed and Baptist traditions, The Weight of Preaching offers an approach that falls within the boundaries of The New Calvinism.This guide presents its theology of homiletics in three sections. The first, Biblical and Theological Foundations Revisited, delves into the theology of preaching. Next, Faithful Preaching in Practice guides the reader through crucial practical issues surrounding faithful preaching. Finally, A Lay of the Cultural Landscape surveys the diverse issues of contextualization that arise in a contemporary, pluralistic milieu.The Weight of Preaching seeks to lead you through the holy tasks of seeking to understand the Scriptures, grasping the message God reveals, and following your commission to herald the gospel of grace.

This collection of inspirational poems about faith, hope and love may be used as praises, including sung praises. They celebrate life and its challenges, searching for why in the times of trouble, grief, nostalgia, joy and peace that come with surrendering to God. They also give thanks to God for always being there despite our imperfect nature as His children. One of their characteristics is the writers consciousness of the limited time and seasons of Gods creation versus the eternity of God the Creatorthe transient state of the world versus the unchanging nature of God. The writer combines lyric poetry with a modern approach that is flexible in terms of form, rhyme and rhythm. It is influenced by tonal language, a rhythm used for centuries in sub-Saharan Africa, China, Vietnam and a great part of Eastern Europe. Their focus on spiritual and religious themes portrays the writers feelings, state of mind, and perception and, as such, may touch the emotions of its readers who can personally relate with the words of the poems or with the lyrics of the songs.

Some people remember their dreams clearly, while others never do. Some people even see events in their dreams that actually come to pass. The Bible tells stories of those who had dreams. God has spoken to people in dreams as well, and he uses dreams to reveal events that will happen in peoples lives.In The Number-One Thing with God, author Ray Fletcher provides an account of the dreams revealed to him by God. Some of these dreams have come true, while others have yet to become a reality. He tells of dreams of beauty and comfort and others that were dreams of terror. Fletcher describes the wonder of what it was like to be with Jesus and see Gods light.Fletcher experienced dreams about the future and the end of time that compelled him to issue a warning to others to be ready to face the day of eternal judgment. Through the dreams, God disclosed the most important factor: he wants his people to love him with all their hearts as he loves them. A guide for staying on course, The Number-One Thing with God presents a message about faith and preparing oneself for an eternity with God.

Schools today offer their students a wide selection of courses. From the three Rs to almost everything from computers to exotic foreign languages, students can select classes to enrich their lives. Unfortunately, most schools offer little or no guidance in enriching a students bank accountor at least in keeping the student out of debt.Author Ed Murrell knows about the allure of easy credit. From early adulthood, he heard the siren call of credit card companies and soon found himself way over his head in debt. In Good Cent$, Murrell reaches out to young people to help them avoid the pitfalls of credit. Readers will learn how he paid off his debts by creating and living on a budget based on the Bible and what it teaches about money. Learn how to create a budget for your stage of life and how to make adjustments as circumstances change. Chapter questions will help make certain the reader understands what was read, so readers will not be left uncertain about the budget-making process.Good Cent$ encourages young people to start a budget today and continue it for the rest of their lives. These are tough financial times, and young people cannot wait to getand keepcontrol of their finances.

In January of 2009, Carolyn Crows world was shattered in a matter of minutes. As her husband, Joe, slept in his hospital bed, Carolyn met with his doctor and received an unexpected announcement: Joe had aggressive bladder cancer. Suddenly, Carolyns life was diverted from its course as she and Joe faced the unknown with just one weapon: their unwavering faith in God.In her devotional, she highlights her up-and-down moments and describes how God sustained her during a tragic experience. Carolyn candidly recalls her pain as she helplessly watched her husband suffer and her joy at witnessing him demonstrate his faith until his last days; she also shares how she eventually found a path of restoration as she learned to live without her husband of thirty-one years. As she walked on a seemingly never-ending path of grief and sought answers to her many questions, Carolyn relied on her divine connection with God to experience his healing power, rediscover herself, and embrace a joyful life again. Included with her powerful, heartfelt devotionals are applicable Scriptures and room for personal reflections.My Divine Connection with God shares a message of hope and healing that encourages anyone facing life-changing challenges to remember that God is good, steadfast, and always present.

The writings contained within chronicle the mental and spiritual journey that the author has undergone. Some of the poems reflect the struggles of post-traumatic stress, while others are more spiritual in nature. Although there are differences in subject matter, the author wrote the truth of what is in his heart and soul.As he began to turn back toward his faith, the author wrote more poems about spiritual matters. The need for the author to submit and lay his life in Gods hands became greater as the days went on. When submission came, it was while the author was writing a poem.

God created each of us in His image, and when He was finished, He said, It is good. These three words from the book of Genesis give us all enormous valueone that is not limited to a future in heaven. In His Image for Teen Girls began as a quest by author Priscilla Soos to explain the value of these three little words and more for her teen daughter. We all need to understand how much worth, strength, and focus can come from knowing that we are each created in Gods image.A personal understanding of what it means to be created in Gods image not only helps us to defend against the negative images pressing down on us every day, but also provides the tools to lift us up to the level God has planned for us. God opened Sooss eyes and helped her see that the challenges her daughter faced were the same as those she encountered at a similar age. The situations differed, but the core issues were the same: the worth she placed on herself would reflect not only the value others would place on her, but also the value she would accept from her environment.In His Image for Teen Girls seeks to help teen girls understand that being created in Gods image makes them heirs to God and His kingdom.

There is a small groundswell of thinking in the evangelical church that we may not have achieved a proper biblical understanding of end-times events. It is important for us to return to a careful study of these things, because the time is near.In The Sign of the End of the Age: What Jesus Taught about the Future in Matthew 24, author Paul Kalbach helps you discoveror rediscoverthe Olivet Discourse, the Lords clear road map that all other prophetic Scriptures must reckon with. To understand the discourse, we must answer one critical question: what is Matthew 24 aboutthe future program for Israel or the end of the age events for all believers, including the church? Kalbach presents extensive arguments that show a different timing and sequence of events than is usually taught by proponents of the pretribulation rapture position. His in-depth study adheres to a most literal interpretation method. The Sign of the End of the Age seeks to bring a deeper understanding of the end-times period, vital in a world that shows every sign that this time is near.

The United States of America stands on the precipice of a New American Revolution which will either end our nation as we currently know it or propel us to new heights. Living among us is a remarkable group of revolutionaries, all Millennials, who are tasked with saving and restoring this great nation. Reminiscent of Founding Fathers George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, these God-called young men and women also share commonalities with Martin Luther and Bible heroes Moses, Gideon, David, Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah. Phill Bettis reveals how these emerging leaders will challenge and question almost everything as they begin an incredible journey toward reemergence of personal responsibility, genuine leadership and discovering God again. These unexpected leaders will face daunting challenges as many in the United States are close to giving up on our economy and political environment. Negativity abounds in the media, and instead of being united, citizens are rapidly choosing sides and asking if there is any way to turn America back to the great nation she once was. Full of encouragement and unabashed reality, The Little Book of Annoying Questions seeks to inject a healthy dose of optimism into our public discourse. Bettis pulls no punches, asking difficult questions that force one to confront the issues of our day. Questions posed to our institutions and to us are simultaneously uncomfortable and inspiring. Those questions reveal a remarkable path to preserve our legacy of freedom and American exceptionalism. Timely and compelling, The Little Book of Annoying Questions opens the door to conversations necessary to save the heart and soul of the United States.

Have you noticed that it is easy to speak of Gods faithfulness in times of prosperity, but that in times of suffering, such praise becomes lost? In Hide and Watch, a true story of sorrow and distress, of hope and triumph, Jill Hicks Lawson shares how she was spiritually transformed by overcoming her doubt in God during times of struggle. From enduring her battle with weight, her mothers kidney disease; to experiencing debilitating infertility and painful divorce; and eventually to becoming her mothers only hope for life, Lawsons personal accounts speak to the universal human experience of suffering, both physical and emotional, providing firsthand proof that, regardless of circumstance, God is in the business of giving hope. By recounting moments of pain and progress, Lawson demonstrates that anguish is the only pathway to experiencing the dramatic joy and peace that result from Gods intervention and healing, assuring those amidst the battle that, in the end, what does not kill your faith makes it stronger.

Have you ever felt like the dating scene was a relentless, brutal, and exhausting search for someone who may or may not be the perfect fit for you? Do you feel like youve searched the world over to find the one only to be disappointed again and again? This is the journey that people have called dating but could instead be renamed agony: relationships that didnt last yet yielded heartaches and heartbreaks that did. Dont lose heart! This journey has the possibility of leading you down a road of healing and hope. Wounds can be bound up, and hurts let go. You may think you will never find the one who completes you and makes you whole. You may think youll never experience the one your heart has longed for. Hold fast, the one may be closer than you think!

Childrens Church Sermons for Worship Service offers adult leaders and teachers a complete years worth of scripts for presenting the truths of the Christian faith to children from four to eight years old. Drawing upon long experience, including more than two decades teaching children in the public schools and nineteen years leading childrens worship, author Sunday Burger offers season-specific messages crafted to encourage children to explore their developing faith.Building upon the foundation of research into the ways children in this age group learn, this collection offers lessons field-tested in worship with children. Each weeks script highlights a passage from the Scriptures, presents a central Christian truth, suggests a visual aid, outlines a message for an adult to share with children, and ends with an invitation for the children to join the leader in a prayer. Depending upon childrens inquisitiveness, the scripts encourage them to explore the messages theme by connecting the visual aid with the Bibles message and by answering questions along the way.If your ministry involves working with children between the ages of four and eight, then this guide can equip you to share the truths of the Christian faith in the main worship service, Sunday school classes, childrens church, Bible school, or whenever young children gather. Through these lessons, the Holy Spirit can use encounters with Gods Word to prepare children to live by faith, lead the Church, and extend the Kingdom of God.

Out of Ruinsis the raw and transparent account of a couples journey to piece their broken marriage back together after sexual sin and adultery left them in devastation. This compelling journey will bring you hope, and equip you with practical gear, necessary to successfully make the trek to a restored marriage.Laura addresses the battle that plays out in her mind as she strives to move away from the shambles of her heart. Rather than wallow in self pity, she describes the determined steps that God directed her choose. She relates her husbands battle with attitudes and actions that changed his heart towards her as well. These resolute and life-giving principles shaped the course of their marriage from that of wreckage, to a strong foundation of love.Creatively told in story form, nuggets of truth are inter-woven into their journey of healing, in an easy-read format that you will find refreshing. Whether gleaning truths for your own marriage or for the healing of someone else, Out of Ruins will call you back to review the heart-healing directives tucked inside.

One name above all names makes the greatest difference in our lives. Yahweh is Gods name. A name God chose to reveal for the first time to His servant Moses at a burning bush in the Sinai desert. The sacred name Yahweh means I AM. Through His name God reveals Himself as the One who meets every human need. He is saying to every person, I AM whatever you need to become all I want you to be. The name Yahweh occurs over 6,800 times in the Old Testament. Many of these occurrences are combinations of Yahweh with other terms, revealing specific ways in which God reaches out to make a difference in His people. In What a Difference a Name Makes, author Jim Harvey guides readers to understand and make personal application of these special combination names. Further insights are offered by discovering that the name Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua, a name that means Yahweh is salvation. One interesting chapter of this book is devoted to a study of the claims Jesus made regarding Himself as I AM the Bread of Life, I AM the Light of the World, I AM the Alpha and the Omega, and many others. Val Harvey provides a helpful Study Guide with each of the thirteen chapters of the book. Bible students who are interested in individual or group study settings will find these guides of practical value in gaining more understanding of Gods nature and His purpose for us.

With each passing day, our world seems to drift further and further away from the God of the Bible, divine creation, and Christian belief. This societal shift toward postmodernism and secularism is not a new development, however; the expanding and intensifying revolt against the biblical God and Christianity traces its roots back to the modern philosophies of the Enlightenment and Romanticism, which have given rise to many divergent views during the past three centuries, and become even more extreme in recent postmodernism.The Greatness of God: How God Is the Foundation of All Reality, Truth, Love, Goodness, Beauty, and Purpose stands as an intellectual counterweight to the prevailing winds of a secular postmodern world. Author Charles Frank Thompson argues that the consequences of this rejection of God and divine creation have not been benign. He traces the modern revolution in detail and describes its deleterious consequences, including the loss of the ultimate basis for universal truth, knowledge, meaning, and purpose. In The Greatness of God, Thompson explores a wide range of topics, including Christian theology, metaphysical philosophy, and an analysis of modern thought and art. He examines the rich history of Christian poetry, prose, and art and takes a look at recent scientific discoveries that help us understand Christian teachings about Gods creation. He concludes with an exploration of the millennium, the eternal kingdom of God, and the spiritual state of America and Europe today.

This is a story where a curious child finds an answer to her persisting question. In asking different people, she receives many answers, however, her mom uses the question as an opportunity to share an important message. With the answer in mind, the little girl learns how God has worked through her mom to take care of her. In addition, there are four different prayers to praise God for His wondrous creation of children.

As the world emphasizes sex to a greater degree, more and more people find themselves dealing with sexual addictioneither their own or that of a loved one. It is important that we begin to recognize and understand this problem so that it can be addressed. With that in mind, this memoir shares author Mary Gillespies personal story about a complicated marriage. They met and married young, and when Gillespies husband, Will, surrendered his life to the ministry, they began their journey in the ministry together. On the surface, things seemed fine, but there were many signs and indicators in their marriage that things were not right. When he was caught in an affair and diagnosed as having a sex addiction, she stayed with him, determined to discover the source of the addiction, to work through the problem, and to forgive him. But after his death, she learned that he had fallen back into his dark life, leaving her grieving both that and his loss. She struggled with her emotions, wanting desperately to understand the illness.Pouring into an Empty Vessel: My Life, Married to a Sex Addict helps you understand the life and pain of a sex addictand that of the partner. Though the spouse can do little to help the addict, you can learn how to endure the helplessness of being unable to helpand how to help yourself survive.

Zs Reflections will take you through the year, month by month, with poems and thoughts that will enrich each season and holiday. This delightful book will warm your heart and help you celebrate each season and holiday throughout the year. This beautiful book makes a great gift for anyone.

They are words no one wants to hear, but each year, many individuals will face their doctor and hear: You have cancer. Those three words will change their life as well as the lives of family and friends.In the spring of 2008, Barbara K. Linton heard those words for the first time. Living with Cancer is the true story of her battle with cancer. She shares her step-by-step journeythe ups and downs, and the challenges and triumphs of LIVING with a cancer diagnosis, each day bringing different struggles.Even so, though the challenges varied, a constant in her battle was Gods faithfulness every step of the way. Living with Cancer will encourage those traveling through life with cancer. Lintons story promises that if you let Him, God will stay right beside you, loving you and willing to give you strength to walk triumphantly through whatever life may bring your way. It wont be an easy journey, but if you let Him, God will prove that even with canceryou can live!

True or False: A person is a Christian if he or she believes the right things about Jesus. True or False: A person is a Christian if he or she obeys God's laws. True or False: A person is a Christian if he or she believes the right things about Jesus and obeys God's laws. Would it surprise you to hear the correct answer to all three questions is False? Too many people misunderstand their faith at the most foundational level. Because of this misunderstanding, they pursue Christian growth and maturity in all the wrong ways. The result is failure, frustration, and the inevitable conclusion that Christianity doesn't work. Right From the Start is a two-part study exploring the truth that Christianity is not a creed or a lifestyle; it is a God-begotten life growing in you, which is spiritual in nature and therefore must be nourished on spiritual food and drink. Anchored in the teachings of John, part one of this study explores what the Christian's new life is made of and how to nourish it to maturity. Part two goes to the next level, demonstrating how a new way of living flows out of a new kind of being. This is not your typical application stage of Bible study. Too often when Bible studies begin to get practical, they cease to be spiritual. Spiritual truth gets relegated to the realm of theory and the real day-to-day Christianity is lived out in the strength of the flesh which essentially means it is not lived out at all. This study does not leave the Holy Spirit behind when it comes time to apply the principles learned. Rooted in the book of Titus, the second part of this study examines the Christian life as a series of portraits of Christ and shows clearly and simply how Christ can be formed in you.

As a Christian mother, I try to teach my daughters lessons of God's love and grace. However, as they grow, I find my girls are the ones teaching me God-sized lessons.Ive learned to throw out my plans and live by faith. Ive learned to earnestly pray and wait expectantly for Gods response. Ive learned to listen for Gods still, small voice. Ive learned to roll up my sleeves and be a fisher of men. Ive learned to seek Gods blessings in the practical day-to-day experiences of life. I hope you are drawn into these devotions of love and laughter. This compilation of true tales contains honest confessions, humor, and scriptural wisdom. May you laugh out loud at my foibles but ultimately realize when we are weak, God is strong. He loves us unconditionally, and His grace is sufficient.

How to Live Holy presents a practical guide that encourages us to consider and implement seven principles to help us live more consecrated and mature Christian lives. The first principle is desire, a holy hunger for a deeper relationship with God that results in wanting to please Him and not ourselves. Desire is a prerequisite for living holy. The second principle is devotions, a holy habit. These quiet times with God can strengthen our relationship with Him and prepare us to interact with the world. The third principle is dedication, the holy honor to God that manifests itself in love. God is love, so loving others is a part of living holy. The fourth principle is denying self, a holy handicap or a self-imposed limitation that recognizes that we must die in order to live holy. The fifth principle is denouncing and detaching, the holy hatchet that identifies evil and cuts off whatever would hinder reaching our goal to live holy. The sixth principle is declaration, the holy heralding whereby we speak out with authority and intention to live holy. Finally, the seventh principle is deploymentwho and what we summon for holy help in order to defeat the enemy and experience victory. If youre having trouble living holy, this guide is the how-to youve been waiting for. Offering strategies and suggested reading, it helps you propel yourself into the mind-set of holy living.

During times of despair, we often feel alone, like we are the only ones going through a horrific trial. It is at this specific time, when life has us in a chokehold, that we look to God and find that we are not the only ones in this predicament and that he is right there with us.We need something to remind us of how we got over it the last time, perhaps a journal, a Scripture, or a special song to refer to in times of distress. These are stones of remembrance that will enable you to quiet the storms of life and control them instead of letting them control you. This book is the basket of stones that helped me remember how I made it through and who helped me. I pray that this book will encourage readers to gather their stones and put them into a basket they can hold on to so they can remember how they overcame it the last time. And when you see someone else going through a storm, show them your basket that they, too, may find peace.

The creation story has been hijacked. The subtle deceptions of the Serpent have caused skeptics and even believers to look upon the opening chapters of Genesis with a cynical eye. As a result many believe that Earth is a cosmic accident and that humanity is merely a product of time, matter and chance. However, Derrick McCarson counters the critics of the Bible with powerful new evidence from the world of astronomy, microbiology and physics which all point to the undeniable fact that we are here by Divine design. In Origins you will be challenged with fascinating information that confirms Genesis 1:1 and following.Content Includes: Deep space discoveries which reveal the first moments of creation Wonders of the universe which point to a super-intelligent Creator The reason why evil and suffering entered the world DNAthe language of God The amazing ingenuity of Noahs Ark

Have you ever sat down to read the Bible, only to find yourself overwhelmed?There are sixty-six books in the Bible that make up the Greatest Story ever told. The Old Testament contains thirty-nine books, and the New Testament contains twenty-seven books. You want to read and understand them, but you find them challenging to the point that you give up. You are not alone.Author Ellen Childs Condensed Book of the New Testament will help you more fully understand those twenty-seven books and the story they tell. Childs condenses almost every major event from the New Testament into a manageable and easily understood format. Jesus miracles, parables, and teachings are grouped together from all four gospels.The Condensed Book of the New Testament will make the Bible come alive as never before. You can easily read this entire book in a week, but read it again and again, because you will learn something new every time you read it. It is my prayer that you will be encouraged to read "e;The Rest of the Book the Bible; the Inspired Word of God!"e; This guide to the Bible will change your life.

We all face difficulties in life..sometimes we cant seem to let go, move on and get to that better place. Sometimes we feel like we are stuck in neutral for no apparent reason. Sometimes something can happen in our life and we just cant seem to get it together. In I Believe In Believing author Cathy Patterson writes about the many areas of life ..love, unhealthy relationships, fear, cancer, angels, reaching our limit, addictions, diets, sex, unforgiveness and many, many more. Each chapter is written to help the reader have a better sense of well being and get to a better place in life.

Christians often focus on the attacks that are being waged from outside their churches, while things that happen within the body of Christ that can damage our churches are forgotten. You have heard the expression, The best way to destroy a country is from within. This same principle also applies to the church.In Danger Zone: Falling from Within, author and evangelist Casey Johnson discusses the subtle but dangerous trends that harm the church. He issues a wakeup call for Christians to open their eyes and notice the subtle dangers within the Church. Johnson considers five areas of danger: changing the character of God, reducing the depth of preaching, minimizing the Gospel, choosing the wrong church leaders, and stealing the Great Commission.If there ever was a time for the church to rise up, it is now. Christians cannot become so self-centered that they try to make every part of church about themselves. If the local church continues to practice many of these dangers, it can slowly become a place where we worship ourselves instead of God.You can only lead in the direction you are going.-Hunter Johnson

If you are struggling to make sense of this life, it may be that you arent thinking of heaven as your permanent home. The world may disappoint you, but God will never let you down; you just have to receive His embrace and thereby avoid wasting your pain. In this inspirational memoir, author Emilia En Lair shares her transformation through tribulation, recalling how she turned to God during every single hardship. The trials of her life did not destroy but rather defined her, as God restored her and healed all her wounds and unbearable heartaches. As a consequence, everything she has gained and lost in this world has brought her closer to God by filling her void with spiritual gifts. In addition to her own journey of faith, hope, and miracles, she also offers guided prayers, self-reflections, and further reading from the Scriptures. No matter what trials or pains you are experiencing, you can find healing in Gods love, forgiveness, and faith. Suitcase to Heaven reminds you that you have not yet reached your final destination and that you are still a traveler with some distance yet to go.