Ministry Time

Most leaders start out with passion, a sense of calling, and a focus on building ministry skills. Such things might get some results, but they are not enough to sustain a healthy ministry - or a healthy life. Beyond the vocational capacities every church planter needs, there's a range of capabilities more difficult to measure but even more essential: What veteran church planter Tim Morey calls spiritual competencies. Morey provides here a practical guide to spiritual formation geared to the unique needs of church planters.

Anyone can start a race, but it takes planning and training to finish it. A good long-distance runner knows the importance of planning his race. As he passes the starting line, he is already considering how he will cross the finish line. As he takes his first easy step, he has planned how he will take his last grueling step. As a Christian man, you are already running the race of life. You are not competing against other people but against the deadly enemies of the world, the flesh, and the devil. How do you plan to maintain your pace throughout this race?

New York Times best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado has discovered that at any given point, almost everyone is dealing with something difficult. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, marriage issues, illness, job loss, or the stress of everyday life, you need the assurance that God will be there for you during tough times.

Discipling your family can feel like an intimidating task, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming or complicated. With a simple plan in place, discipleship is something every parent can do. Pastors Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin have made it their mission to help you develop a sustainable rhythm of gospel-centered discipleship focused in three key areas: time, moments, and milestones, as you raise your children in the love and fear of the Lord.

Dann Spader is a disciple-maker who has spent his adult life exploring what it means to take someone from being a seeker to making disciples themselves. Over 750,000 people in 80 countries have been trained to make disciples through organizations he has led. Through studying the life of Christ and his disciple-making methods, Dann developed 4 Chair Discipling, a simple picture for others to follow. Jesus’ last words on earth had a few very specific instructions: Go, make disciples, baptize, and teach.

In the summer of 1928, sixteen-year-old Minka was looking forward to a sewing class picnic. This would be a rare chance to put aside farm chores, don a pretty dress, and enjoy an outing with other girls. It would be a day to remember. And it was - but not in the way Minka had dreamed. Cornered by a stranger in the woods, the young girl was assaulted. Minka still believed that the stork brought babies; she would not discover for months that she was pregnant.

In Jonathan and His Times, W. W. Fereday examines the life and times of Jonathan, son of King Saul. Although a man of faith who loved David as his own soul and performed many daring exploits in the name of Jehovah, he was a man of mixed principles, a double-minded man who never lived up to his spiritual potential. Jonathan's weakness is clearly shown: He was not prepared to follow David in his rejection.

There is powerful breakthrough awaiting people who pray desperate prayers. Using the prayer of Hannah as a model, Apostle John Eckhardt invites listeners to a life of prayer that consistently sees results. Through biblical teaching and practical application, this book takes listeners through the five key points of Hannah’s prayer that can help them remain steadfast in prayer.

Much of the world met Bishop Curry when he delivered his sermon on the redemptive power of love at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. Here, he expands on his message of hope in an inspirational road map for living the way of love, illuminated with moving lessons from his own life. Through the prism of his faith, ancestry, and personal journey, Love Is the Way shows us how America came this far and, more important, how to go a whole lot further.

Sacred Sleep was created with this biblical model of peace in mind. It is a unique experience that will help you get the rest you need while deepening your faith and drawing you closer to God. Combined with a scholarly introduction by Robert J. Bagley, this groundbreaking sleep aid contains some of the most well-loved verses in Scripture, including the Sermon on the Mount, The Christmas Story, and Psalm 119. These passages are presented with soothing music to allow the water of the Word and worship to wash over you every time you experience them (1 Samuel 10:5-6).

The words in this book and the following three books in the Christ Mind series (Silence of the Heart, Miracle of Love, and Return to the Garden) were written down during a five year period from 1993-1998. These messages are the fruit of my personal relationship with Jesus which developed in the 1980s and intensified thereafter. Opening my heart and mind to my teacher and writing down his words was an experience of profound communion. It was essentially ecstatic in nature.

More than gifts and celebrations, even beyond Bethlehem, the shepherds, and wise men, Christmas is about the glory of Heaven coming to Earth in the person of Jesus! This unique Advent devotional pulls back the veil on the wonder of the incarnation! Featuring contributions from best-selling authors and Spirit-empowered teachers, each of these 25 daily Advent devotionals leading up to Christmas is a unique revelation of the glory that was released by Jesus' birth!

Be propelled to success in your finances through the powerful teachings of Jesus! A down-to-Earth look at what Jesus had to say about money, Money Mysteries from the Master uncovers the keys to financial success, straight from the master himself. So did Jesus really talk much about money? Gary Keesee uses everyday examples, amazing stories and Jesus’ parables to shed light on the powerful truths of the Bible and how they are relevant. Just as a nation has rules to govern and prosper its people, the kingdom of God has principles for every area of our lives, including finances.

The end times have seen a great amount of interest within the last two decades. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the Arab Spring, ISIS, and the Iranian stand-off have focused us on the future of the Middle East - the center of the Bible's prophecies about the last days. Yet there hasn't been a comprehensive overview of biblical prophecy and eschatology for more than five decades. Mark Hitchcock's book is that comprehensive resource for the 21st-century listener. The End will provide a solid biblical foundation for Christians to explore the essential truths.

In this Bible overview, Charles Shefler outlines God’s entire plan, from start to eternal finish, showing how all nations will be redeemed through Israel and the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus). Its simple, everyday language will help you better understand the Bible, as well as Israel's vital role in the things to come.

This illuminating and insightful audiobook analyzes problems with the culture's underlying worldviews and suggests how Christians can offer solutions to current problems as a way to rebuild culture and faith.

In this book, Joni unveils the God whom she has found to be faithful through over 30 years as a paralytic. This is not the story of a woman who has all the answers or who is very different from you. Joni struggles with the same fears, questions, and heartaches we all have in common. But as the weeks and months turn into years and the years into decades, she meets her Savior at every turn.

In this inspiring devotional, Dodie Osteen shares her personal spiritual insights, blending Scriptures with godly exhortations and effective prayers, to encourage, comfort, and enlighten both men and women. Her reflections on the Word of God will help bring healing, restoration, and confidence to listeners and their loved ones, so that they can choose an abundant life.

In the tradition of the bestselling book The One Minute Manager, authors Ken Blanchard and S. Truett Cathy, entrepreneur and founder of Chick-Fil-A restaurants, present The Generosity Factor--a parable that demonstrates the virtues of generosity. It's the story of a meeting between the Broker--a young man on his way up the corporate ladder who has the illusion of success, yet deep inside feels insignificant--and the Executive--the CEO of a very large and successful company who claims the greatest joy in his life is his ability to give to others.

American Christianity teaches the centrality of the individual: my will, my experiences, my decision, my heart, my work, and my dedication. Yet we couldn't be more unaware that Christ and His saving and comforting work are being lost. Our minds and hearts are captivated in some way by those who often preach the Christian instead of Christ.