Church Time

Maybe you have been there: you’re running late to church, and you know it will be hard to find an empty seat. This is an all-too-frequent experience in a growing church. For churches experiencing this dilemma, a common solution is to add another service or location. This seems like a cost-effective fix. Besides, no one wants to turn away non-Christians. But is it the best option? Jonathan Leeman presents a series of biblical, theological, and pastoral arguments to help reorient our minds to a scriptural definition of church.

Originally written in 1656 and endorsed by generations of leading pastors as an essential book on the work of ministry, this abridged version of The Reformed Pastor presents the best of Richard Baxter’s timeless advice in simple, modern language that’s more accessible to a new generation of church leaders.

Ryan and his friends become the subjects in a deadly experiment when they're taken captive inside a redoubt at the South Pole. A team of scientists is convinced the Earth must be purified of mutants, and now they have the perfect lab rats to test their powerful bioweapon. Within Antarctica's harsh and unstable conditions, the companions must fight the odds and take down the whitecoats before millions are killed. But in this uncompromising landscape, defeating the enemy may be just another step toward a different kind of death....

Each chapter focuses on roughly one century in the life of the Christian church, providing an even-handed view of Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestant denominations. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter offer opportunities to reflect on parallels in contemporary Christian church life, considerations from a relevant Bible passage, and opportunities for application. This is an excellent text for a half-year study group.

Christians love to fight, and most of the time we fight unnecessary battles. We fight over worship styles, building programs, carpet color, governance structures, use of alcohol, and a thousand other debatable matters of theology or culture. The fuel that feeds the fire are gray issues. What is a gray issue? A gray issue is an area of theology or culture that is either not addressed in the Bible, or while addressed, leaves room for legitimate differences of opinions. Come and join a new movement of biblically sound, theologically solid, and beautifully unified Gray Churches.

Our world needs the church, like never before, to be full of hope. But the church is not always what it could be. Perhaps, we need a declutter. A clear-out. A detox. We all collect excess stuff - books, clothes, cars, gadgets, thoughts, habits, scars, traditions. Sometimes, it’s good to strip things back a bit.

In today’s polarized context, Christians often have committed, biblical rationales for very different positions. How can Christians navigate disagreements with both truth and love? Tim Muehlhoff and Rick Langer provide lessons from conflict theory and church history on how to negotiate differing biblical convictions in order to move toward Christian unity.

Вадим Макоед получил отрезвляющие откровения о нынешнем состоянии современной Церкви и стремительно приближающемся конце века сего. В своей книге он излагает гнетущие вопросы, с которыми верующим людям необходимо разобраться, если они хотят быть Невестой, готовой к величайшему событию всех времён – бракосочетанию с Агнцем.

We are currently living in a world where spiritual darkness seems to be making a greater appearance. Many Bible commenters tell us that we are living in the final generation before Christ returns to collect his church. Hear what Matthew Robert Payne believes he has seen for the future of our world. Take a look at some of the events that he thinks will play out before Jesus Christ returns.

Do you want your children to be actively serving in the local church when they turn 30 and beyond? Why They Stay can help! Much has been written about younger adults and their departure from church involvement. Concerned parents and church leaders want to know what has caused them to depart. Instead of asking why young adults are leaving the church, Parr and Crites conducted a national research project of those who grew up in church and are still serving faithfully.

The story of the ancient Church is one of a people who were finding their way over many years by the light that God shined forth for them. Today, we are looking back over the centuries with many more years of understanding but we stand on the shoulders of those who braved persecution, death, debate, and mystery on behalf of generations to come.

What's the point of the church anyway? The emerging generation is opting out of the church in large numbers. They're embarrassed at how the church is portrayed in the media and dismayed at what appears to be their options for participation. Is church really necessary anymore? Is it even possible? Tim Soerens sees this unsettled state of affairs as an extraordinary opportunity: The church, he says, is on the edge of a new possibility at the very moment so much of it feels like it's falling apart.

Bob Roberts Jr. shows how present-day disciples of Jesus can find in their daily work the resources they need to transform the world for Christ. Roberts explains how ordinary Christians can embrace a kingdom perspective and watch their global connections become opportunities for fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission.

It was the summer of 1961. Vince Lombardi, the iconic coach of the Green Bay Packers, started the training camp by holding something that needed no explanation. His words have since become legendary. He said, Gentlemen, this is a football. He made his point with five simple words: If we want to be successful, were going to have to remember the basics and make sure were executing the fundamentals.

Bruce Miller debunks the idea of balance - basically trying to have it all, all the time. Most churches and their pastors try to do everything at once and feel guilty if any one aspect (worship, ministries, outreach, etc.) is neglected. He replaces the exhausting concept of balance with the idea of rhythm: churches, like people, need to give attention to different programs and ministries at different times, basically by attending to their seasons and cycles.

Most pastors pray for a healthy and vibrant church, but many find themselves frustrated because they lack direction and feel as though they are spinning their wheels. They struggle to correct unhealthy patterns or do not have fresh vision for their ministry. John K. Jenkins can relate. The first church he attended is best described as a shack with a bell and a steeple. When he accepted his first senior pastoral role, he ministered to 35 people on a good Sunday. Today, Pastor Jenkins welcomes more than 11,000 worshipers to Sunday services, and thousands more participate virtually.

At 17-years old, Jayne excels at math and science, hangs out with the goth crowd and has a new crush. The new boy at school, Aithen, is cute, but there’s something else about him she can’t quite put her finger on. There was only one problem. Laura, her friend turned nemesis, just vanished in front of her eyes. It didn’t seem possible and must be some sort of hallucination. Was it the bump on the head from last year or something else? She just couldn’t figure it out.

According to one song, “today is only yesterday’s tomorrow” - which means that tomorrow starts today! But we aren’t going to see our future by looking at the past. Yes, we need to celebrate and honor what has brought us to where we are. However, it will not be enough to get us to what God has in store. We need to let go of the old to receive the new.

Politics Reformed makes a provocative contribution to understanding foundational questions in an era of rising fundamentalism and emboldened secularism, inspiring listeners to rethink the importance of religion in political theory and practice, and the role of the covenant tradition in particular.

Is this the last generation? Are we living in the last days? Will Jesus be here soon? What does the Bible say about the last generation? 2 Timothy 3 is one of the most amazing chapters in the Bible relating to end times prophecy and the return of Jesus Christ. In this powerful chapter it describes what the generation would look like just before the Lord's return for His Church. Two-Tim-Three is an audiobook dedicated to the study of this chapter. This audiobook will go through each of the 23 symptoms of this last generation the Bible speaks about.