Church

Life in the father's house: a member's guide to the local church

In our individualistic society, church membership, faithful church attendance, and active service in the body of Christ are often considered optional, even among professing Christians. Some even view the organized church as a hindrance to spiritual growth and freedom. Mack and Swavely clearly introduce us to the biblical meaning of church membership, the traits of a good church, and how we are to function as parts of the body. Written for lay men and women, this book includes practical discussions of church leadership, male and female roles, worship, spiritual gifts, confrontation, unity, and prayer.


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Loving the church: God's people flourishing in God's family

Loving the Church reminds us how glorious God’s family really is, and the countless ways that you can flourish within it. In recent years the family has experienced a revival within Christian culture, but with this increased emphasis on the importance of the family, less value has been placed on God’s family, the church. One of the most important relationships for all Christians is their involvement in God’s family. Loving the Church lays the vital foundation for applying His glorious plan to our own lives. Enter as friends and explore together what it means to love the church. Follow the story of five friends as they wrestle with important questions about the church. After each of their discussions about the church, the author leads the reader to understand the beauty and joy of being a member of the household of God.


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Strange fire: the danger of offending the holy spirit with counterfeit worship

What would God say about those who blatantly misrepresent His Holy Spirit? Who exchange true worship for chaotic fits of mindless ecstasy? Who replace the biblical gospel with vain illusions of health and wealth? Who claim to prophesy in His name yet speak errors: and who sell false hope to desperate people for millions of dollars? The Charismatic Movement has always been a breeding ground for scandal, greed, bad doctrine, and all kinds of spiritual chicanery. As a movement, it is clearly headed the wrong direction. And it is growing at an unprecedented rate. From the Word of Faith to the New Apostolic Reformation, the Charismatic Movement is being consumed by the empty promises of the prosperity gospel. Too many charismatic celebrities promote a “Christianity” without Christ, a Holy Spirit without holiness. And their teaching is having a disastrous influence on a grand scale, as large television networks broadcast their heresies to every part of the world. In Strange Fire, best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur chronicles the unsavory history behind the modern Charismatic Movement. He lays out a chilling case for rejecting its false prophets, speaking out against their errors, showing true reverence to the Holy Spirit, and above all clinging to the Bible as the inerrant, authoritative Word of God and the one true standard by which all truth claims must be tested.


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the elder's toolbox

While elders might not think of themselves as “counselors,” God often uses biblically-qualified elders to give good counsel to Christians at crucial moments in their lives. Many a person has found fresh insight and courage in “a word fitly spoken,” which they treasure like silver and gold (Prov. 25:11-12). The Elder’s Toolbox equips godly leaders to guide sinful and hurting people with the wisdom of our God. Here is an approach to counseling that is both intentionally biblical and graciously holistic, for it recognizes that our problems involve our souls, bodies, and external circumstances. As a result, The Elder’s Toolbox is eminently practical.

 

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truth apparent: application in preaching

“Too often, a sermon flounders on a preacher’s failure to make a good connection between a message originally delivered to God’s people a millenia ago and the congregation in the here and now. This book offers a cogent, biblical philosophy of application, together with practical suggestions about how the busy preacher can readily implement it. Truth Applied explains what ‘application’ means, why it is necessary, how it is derived from Scripture, and how the Holy Spirit influences it.


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handbook of church discipline: A right and privilege of every church member

This is a handbook for pastors, elders, and all Christians who want to see how Scripture presents the process of discipline that should operate in the Christian community. It was written in response to an urgent need. In order to help church leaders deal with the sorts of problems that require the church to respond with discipline, the author has developed the book around the five steps of corrective discipline found especially in Matthew 18:15 — 17. Because there is not merely one kind or one stage of discipline, church leaders must learn how to discern. And once the right discernment has been made, then the right action can follow. This is a simple and very readable little handbook. The influence it can and should have on the church is, however, quite profound.


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Called to preach? pondering god's commission for your life

This short booklet contains an essay divided into four areas: the priority of preaching, the meaning of ordination, “calling” to the ministry, and the shape of seminary training. It is aimed at helping young men who may be wrestling with whether or not they are called to the gospel ministry.


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Truth applied: Ministry monographs for modern times

Timeless Texts introduces a monograph series for ministry. The General categories introducing the series are Church, Counseling, Preaching and Theology. Other categories will be added in the future. The books are topical writings by contemporary authors addressed to those who are involved in ministry in today's church. That would include Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Counselors and active laymen.


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