The Western church finds itself in the midst of a seismic cultural shift, as secular paradigms threaten to remove any spiritual explanation for life, and Christianity is often viewed with skepticism and cynicism.Rather than perceiving these ongoing challenges as irritants to expel, it's time to see them as opportunities to embrace, so that we might effectively serve the world around us and form a more robust and Christlike church.Jon Ritner invites you on his journey across...

Missio Alliance Essential Reading ListReaders' Choice Award WinnerSeedbed's 10 Notable BooksNothing has exposed the gap between the church and the broader society quite like the cultural argument over sexuality.Relationships, identities, orientations and even seemingly straightforward concepts such as gender have cut battle lines between the church and the world. In the fog of war and the cloud of conflict, it's increasingly hard to see our way clearl...

"It is said that the true test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members."As many as one in four girls and one in six boys experience sexual abuse during childhood, and it's estimated that as many as half of the incidents are neverreported. This means that countless millions in our societies, both children and adults, carry this complex, often hidden pain. What does the path to healing look like for survivors? And how can ministry leaders, pastors, and counselors best help ...

Aren’t Christians Supposed to Be the Loving Ones?Whether it’s the news, social media, or well-intentioned friends, we’re told daily to fear "others." We fear strangers, neighbors, the other side of the aisle, even those who parent differently. And when we’re confronted with something that scares us, our brain sees only two options:Attack or AvoidBut either way, polarization intensifies. What if you could defy your ...

For those sermon-heavy Sundays when you long to be washing the dog or unblocking a drain, here are 101 adrenaline-pumping exercises: * See if a yawn really is contagious * Slap the person sitting next to you. See if he or she turns the other cheek. If not, raise your hand and tell the pastor * Devise ways of climbing into the balcony without using the stairs 'They cut down trees for this?' - Erasmus 'I deplore the lack of an index' - Martin Luther 'Very dodgy' - John Wesley 'I prefer the o...

For those sermon-heavy Sundays when you long to be washing the dog or unblocking a drain, here are 101 adrenaline-pumping exercises: * See if a yawn really is contagious * Slap the person sitting next to you. See if he or she turns the other cheek. If not, raise your hand and tell the pastor * Devise ways of climbing into the balcony without using the stairs 'They cut down trees for this?' - Erasmus 'I deplore the lack of an index' - Martin Luther 'Very dodgy' - John Wesley 'I prefer the o...

Nothing has exposed the gap between the church and the broader society quite like the cultural argument over sexuality. Relationships, identities, orientations, and even seemingly straightforward concepts such as gender have cut battle lines between the church and the world. In the fog of war and the cloud of conflict, it's increasingly hard to see our way clearly.There is hope, however. Debra Hirsch has seen it firsthand—in meaningful lifelong relationships with LGBT friends and n...

Ignite a deeper, more vibrant relationship with God that impacts not just your spiritual life but every aspect of your daily life.John Ortberg calls readers back to the dynamic heartbeat of Christianity--God's power to bring change and growth--and reveals how and why transformation takes place.The Life You've Always Wanted offers modern perspectives on the ancient path of the spiritual disciplines. But it is more than just a book about things to do...

There never has been and never will be anyone like you. But that isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you. The problem? Few people discover the God-given identity that makes them unlike anyone else. Mark Batterson calls this divine distinction our soulprint.God would like to introduce you to yourself.In Soulprint, Mark pours the contagious energy he’s known for into helping you experience the joy of discovering...

Emotions such as anger or sadness or desire arise within us, often without our directly willing them. But we are still free to choose how we respond to them. How can we better understand our God-given emotions and manage them so that we gain the emotional equilibrium and healthy balance we need to take charge of our lives, grow closer to Christ, and share in the joy of his love? In this insightful and easy-to-read book, Catholic therapist Art Bennett and his wife Laraine explain how our em...

So... Many... Choices... Can't... Make... The... Wrong... One...Where should I go to college? Whom should I marry? Where should I look for work? What will my friends think?In our journey of faith there are particular moments that produce a certain amount of anxiety. Often anxiety and/or worry has been looked upon as an "un-Christian" feeling to have. But The Anxious Christian conveys the message that anxiety can actually be helpful in our spiritual formati...

Dr. Worthington provides a path to freedom, from self-condemnation to self-acceptance, and to the life that Christ promises in Moving Forward.The partial truth about us is hard to accept: We hurt those we love. We fail to step in when others need us most. We do wrong—and we need forgiveness. From others and from God, but also from ourselves.But the full truth about us is liberating and freeing: while we are more deeply flawed than we can i...