Religion Community

We were created for community. So why do we want to be alone? The Bible tells the story of the immense power of human relationships and God's love for the church. Douglas Bursch presents a timely, insightful and practical theology of community. He examines the relational implications of human existence, sin, salvation, discipleship, evangelism, and other key biblical concepts. Doug also shares unfiltered stories concerning his personal weaknesses and the relational struggles he has faced as a pastor.

When people live in community moved by the gospel and marked by the Spirit, great things happen. They commit to one another. They grieve together, sing together, eat, pray, and play together. They love, serve, honor, encourage, and provide for each other gladly. And they live on mission together. Hearts are healed, walls come down, and outsiders come in. No competition. No pretense. No vain conceit. Just full hearts breaking bread and giving freely.

Our world has been torn asunder by racial, ethnic, and ideological differences. It is seen in our politics, felt in our families, and ingrained in our theology. Sadly, the church has often reinforced these ethnic and racial divides. To cast off the ugliness of disunity and heal our fractured humanity, we must cultivate spiritual practices that help us pursue beautiful community. In The Beautiful Community, pastor and theologian Irwyn Ince boldly unpacks the reasons for our divisions while gently guiding us toward our true hope for wholeness and reconciliation.

In Nothing More to Give James Skeen invites listeners on a profound journey from transactional obedience to transformational relationships. This audiobook challenges conventional beliefs and inspires listeners to embrace a relationship with God grounded in grace, not merit.

With the help of God, her family, and many other people along the way, Diane's Kids off the Block morphed from a personal crusade to do what she could into a nationally known program that has helped more than 3,000 at-risk Chicago teens. In this powerful, energizing book, she tells her incredible story to men and women who are sick of sitting behind their keyboards watching the world crumble and are ready to do something to make a difference.

Da’watul-Ameer (Invitation to Ahmadiyyat) was written in 1926, specifically addressing the Amir of Afghanistan, Amanullah Khan, who ordered the execution by stoning of three Afghan Ahmadi Muslims a couple of years earlier. Such atrocities underscored the need to refute the false allegations that had been circulating about the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Although the specific events and the original book are now relics of the past, the book lives on as a general primer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community's doctrinal beliefs.

Whether your idea of camping is in a tiny tent, a luxury RV, or somewhere in between, nothing beats having fun with family and friends in the fresh air. Relive favorite memories of childhood vacations and get excited for future outdoor adventures with these humorous and heartwarming recollections from best-selling author and camping enthusiast Melody Carlson. Pack your gear and hit the road with Melody.

We all long for homes where we can thrive and flourish. What does it take to have a spiritually vibrant household? Don Everts invites us to contemplate what the Bible says about households and consider what a new research project has revealed by pulling back the curtains on everyday households of faith. Original research from the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries shows that some of the healthiest, most vibrant homes extend beyond the nuclear family and include people that may not be biologically related but feel like family.

It’s time to go beyond saying “I’m not racist.” It’s time to take action. It’s time to become a color-courageous Christian and stand up to racism wherever you see it—in your school, in your community, and in your own heart and mind. In Color-Courageous Discipleship Student Edition, Michelle T. Sanchez shows you how racial righteousness was God’s idea in the first place.

Greg Books reveals time-honored principles to help us experience stronger, more satisfying relationships in our families, friendships, and faith communities. To experience stronger, more satisfying relationships with our friends, our families, and our faith communities, it's time to get back to our roots. Greg Books shows us the way.

Hyper-individualism and consumerism are failing to satisfy our hunger for meaning. We face an identity crisis in which real community is increasingly hard to find. The culture wars have been painful and polarizing and have proved a poor way to agree any kind of moral standards. Is it even possible to find a vision for goodness that can bring us together? Rumors of a Better Country addresses our hunger for justice and a better way of living by awakening our moral imagination to the potential of a trusting community.

A cross-section of five frontline leaders in the controversial emerging church movement shed informative light on their beliefs and basic message to help us understand whether it’s all about new methods or a new message or both.

This revolutionary yet practical book addresses the causes of burnout many Christians face and empowers them to join God in a joy-fueled movement of Jesus! Vibrancy and joy are what Christians are promised. Yet, many have experienced the opposite: a guilt-ridden, duty-based, judgmental culture that has left them still searching for the life Jesus promised.

Doug Ruffle writes A Missionary Mindset using the timeless principles of E. Stanley Jones and transfers them for use today. Teaching us to approach the mission field as if we were from a different country and learning a new culture, a new way of communicating, and a new way to connect people to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Slow Down, Show Up and Pray, Ruth Rice tells the story of the Renew Wellbeing charity, and offers practical resources to maintain our own mental health and support those around us. How can we renew wellbeing in our own lives and in our local communities? Looking after our mental health has never been so important. Many of us want to find simple ways to help our wellbeing that we can fit into our everyday life.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33). Our heavenly Father has given us unfathomable blessings, but we often fail to live as if they are truly ours. In Thankfulness and Confession, Brad Scheelke encourages listeners to meditate on and rejoice in the glorious riches of our inheritance in Christ. As we regularly give thanks for what God has given us, our thoughts and actions will begin to change . . . often in surprising ways. Gratitude also changes how we deal with sin.

In an era in which religion can be perceived as a source of division rather than peace, Heaven Help Us by former Ohio governor and congressman John Kasich explores true, inspiring stories of American faith communities becoming fresh, surprising forces for the common good. More than a collection of "feel-good" stories, Heaven Help Us reminds us of the resourcefulness and ingenuity of our fellow congregants and religious leaders that make it possible to turn our good intentions into even better outcomes.

This is a lecture delivered by Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad(ra), second Successor of the Promised Messiah(as). The primary purpose of this lecture was to provide a correct and accurate historical account of the conflicts which arose most prominently during the Khilafat of Hazrat Uthman(ra).

辺りに漂っていたのは確かにそこにある希望の香りだったそれは美の香りだった東京在住の音楽家ロジャーWラウザー宣教師が東日本大震災の被災地で見つけた音楽の力希望の香りボランティアとして活動する中美が恐怖と絶望に勝つ瞬間が何度もあった避難所の体育館でのコンサート炊き出し人々との交流それらの経験から書かれたメディテーションは私たちに神の美しさとその存在を示し励ましを与えてくれる

Nature is what gives us life—it is the source of all magic and power in the world. That is something that humans have understood since the beginning of time, and it is a constant among cultures around the world. However, the ways in which we celebrate it can vary wildly. Each of these celebrations is a ritual, a form of magic created by community and tradition. And while their differences can help us understand their various cultural identities, their similarities can create a bond that reaches across space and time.