Bücher veröffentlicht von Langham Publishing

Since Gérard Genette first coined the term in 1972, focalization has been recognized as one ofthe key concepts in contemporary understandings of narrative. However, in the field of biblical studies, the concept has been largely overlooked. Dr. Konstantin Nazarov seeks to rectify this oversight, exploring the implications of focalization on Old Testament narratology. Utilizing the work of Wolf Schmid and Valeri Tjupa to develop his methodology - and examining the book of Ruth as a case study - Nazarov demonstrates the value of focalization in furthering the appreciation and understanding of biblical texts.This is an excellent resource for students of narratology, biblical studies scholars, or anyone seeking to better understand the narratives of Scripture.

The church in the Democratic Republic of Congo is no stranger to conflict, yet little research has been done on the impact of war in shaping the local church''s understanding of itself and its mission. In this in-depth study, Dr. Eraston Kambale Kighoma traces the survival and theological development of the Baptist Church in Central Africa over a twenty-year period of conflict. Utilizing a combination of descriptive, contextual and integrative approaches, he examines the effect of war on the church''s theology in action, especially its understanding and practice of mission. This study sheds new light on existing theories of missions, while offering specific insight into the church''s missionary task in contexts of conflict. It offers an excellent addition to missiological studies for scholars and practitioners alike.

As Christians, how do we address the contentious and often disturbing subject of demonology? Our cultural paradigms pit us between the extremes of skepticism and sensationalism. Increasingly diverse Christian communities are in desperate need of a biblical understanding of the demonic that transcends cultural frameworks - an understanding that will challenge assumptions, rebuke errors, and unite Christians in scriptural truth.Demonology for the Global Church endeavors to provide the biblical and theological essentials for a unified Christian perspective of the demonic. Avoiding speculation and anecdotal evidence, Scott D. MacDonald roots his analysis in Scripture. He frames a biblical demonology in light of global and contextual concerns, offering an understanding that avoids the pitfalls of anti-supernaturalism and over emphasis.If the church is to effectively overcome its spiritual adversaries, Christians from around the world must stand and resist together. This is an essential resource for the global church, relevant to students of theology, institutional scholars, cross-cultural missionaries, local pastors, and all types of Christian leaders.

The Five Phases of Leadership is a book written by a practitioner for practitioners. Organized around five stages of leadership - establishing trust, cultivating leaders, discerning vision, implementing plans and transitioning out - this book offers an overview of the leadership life cycle from a distinctively Christian perspective.Dr. Justyn Terry draws on over twenty years of leadership experience in seminaries and churches, to offer practical insight into a leader's role. Rather than focusing primarily on leadership styles or skills, this book demonstrates why those skills matter in context. By focusing on a leader's overall task, Dr. Terry offers a vision of leadership that draws together its disparate elements into a unified whole.

The status of the global church is often that of a sociopolitical minority, at odds politically, religiously, and socially with the nations that encompass it. In such contexts, where Christians find themselves facing oppression, isolation, and challenging questions of identity, how is the church to faithfully uphold its missional calling?In this in-depth study of Chinese Christians living in Sabah, Malaysia, Dr. Khee-Vun Lin engages missiology and political theology to address the practical implications of incarnational mission in contexts where national identity exclude Christians from the public discourse. Examining the political and religious history of Malaysia, including the impact of colonialism, nationalism, and Islamization, Dr. Lin provides a powerful explication of the theological and practical foundations for utilizing social engagement as a tool of incarnational mission. Whether living under oppressive hegemonic control or the shadow of secular governments turned hostile to Christian values, it is through embracing incarnational identity that Christians can authentically engage both nation-building and evangelism to the good of their neighbor and the glory of God.

The sacred-secular divide permeates our churches, our seminaries, and our lives. By perpetuating the false belief that there are some areas of life that are not important to God, some callings that are second-class, and some spheres of society that are not worth engaging, the sacred-secular divide diminishes our understanding of God, discipleship, missiology, and the gospel itself.Seeking to liberate the global church from the power of this dichotomy, Whole-Life Mission for the Whole Church provides theological educators with the tools they need to combat the sacred-secular divide in the very realm where it is so often generated: the classroom. Filled with contributions from practitioners around the world, this book contains a wealth of insight into both the nature of the problem and the possibilities for its solution. The approaches suggested here are biblically rooted, contextually appropriate, and experientially tested, offering an excellent resource for educators desiring to transform their institutional cultures, curriculums, and classrooms into environments that envision, empower, and liberate the whole church for its role in the mission of God.

The ICETE Program for Academic Leadership (IPAL) was officially established in 2010 out of the need to provide training to theological institutions in various regions of the world. IPAL offers four-day seminars in a three-year cycle for the professional development of evangelical academic administrators, in order to assist institutions in their quest for quality and excellence.This publication is the second of three volumes whose purpose is to accompany and support IPAL seminars, in addition to providing, independently, a broader access to the principles that academic leaders need for curricular and institutional development.Each chapter shares the author''s experience and illustrates their understanding of education and curriculum design in the field of evangelical academic institutions. This volume, which intentionally takes the wide variety of non-Western contexts for granted, is a vitally valuable guide for academic administrators around the world.

The church in Asia is growing with unprecedented speed, raising new challenges in the realm of effective, contextualized discipleship. Can this growing church nurture biblical training that is relevant to the contexts, communities, and livelihoods of its believers? In this immensely relevant book, the Increase Association shares its practical wisdom on how to utilize Theological Education by Extension as "Tools to Equip and Empower" all believers for kingdom work. TEE in Asia provides a foundational understanding of TEE''s history, theological underpinnings, and methodology, while casting a vision for the expanding role of TEE in the twenty-first century. Filled with testimonies from church communities throughout Asia, this book provides concrete examples of TEE''s effectiveness in a wide variety of contexts and the innovative work of the Increase Association which connects, strengthens, and represents the national TEE movements. It invites the reader to partner with God''s work through prayer and tangible action.

Fyodor Dostoevsky was not a theologian, and his books are not books of theology. However, there is a "living way" that emerges from the study of his life and work, convictions made manifest in the details of his own life and the lives of his characters. Utilizing James William McClendon''s conception of biography as theology, Dr. Dumitru Sevastian explores the lived convictions that emerge from three distinct periods in Dostoevsky''s life, the pre-Siberian, Siberian, and post-Siberian, each represented by one of his novels, The Poor Folk, The House of the Dead, and The Brothers Karamazov. What emerges is a powerful expression of faith formed in community and tempered in suffering, an example relevant to all Christians seeking to model their lives and relationships on the dying and resurrected Christ.

From wars and ethnic strife to religious tensions and cultural misunderstandings, conflict is an ongoing reality in our world. Yet complacency and acceptance are not options for Christians called to forgiveness, transformation, and the holy work of loving our neighbors. Rather, we must choose the radical, demanding, and difficult work of reconciliation.Journey through the Storm unpacks Musalaha''s thirty years of practical experience building bridges, healing division, and following Christ in the context of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Composed of essays, curriculum excerpts, interviews, and real-life testimonies, this collection offers insight into the theory, theology, and application of Musalaha''s six stages of reconciliation. It is a powerful, hopeful, and deeply realistic look at the demands and rewards of transforming the "other" into a neighbor and an enemy into a friend.

The Pauline epistles are filled with beautiful and provocative metaphors for the church: it is a bride, a body, a flock, a temple. Each of these metaphors emphasizes the central unity and indivisibility of the people of God. Yet how do Christians live out this unity in the face of ethnic conflict, tribalism, and political divisions? In this powerful application of Paul''s teaching, Fabrice S. Katembo explores the mystery of the church in an African context, arguing that the greatest challenge facing God''s people is not external threat, but internal discord. Katembo draws his reader''s attention back to the unifying work of Christ, who died to abolish all walls of separation and in whom we are one, no matter the tongue, tribe, or nation. Providing an overview of Paul''s life and ministry, and engaging the work of renown theologians such as John Mbiti and Kwame Bediako, this is an excellent resource for anyone facing intercultural tensions within the church. It is also a vital reminder that far from harmless, divisions between believers threaten to cripple the body of Christ by distorting its witness, injuring its members, and separating what Christ died to unify.

Interpersonal conflict is one of the greatest threats to the health and growth of the church worldwide. Yet despite their best intentions, Christian leaders often discover that the cause of recurring conflict remains unclear and prescribed techniques for conflict resolution are ineffective in their communities. In this Sri Lankan case study, Dr Mano Emmanuel examines the specifics of interpersonal conflict within a shame-oriented culture. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, she incorporates cultural anthropology, missiology, and communication studies into her analysis, identifying seven aspects of culture that must be addressed if reconciliation is to be fully experienced in the Sri Lankan church. Highlighting the parallels between contemporary honor-shame cultures and the honor-shame context of the New Testament, the author provides specific suggestions for experiencing biblical reconciliation while maintaining cultural sensitivity and protecting the honor of those involved.

People are desperate for leaders who are credible – those who possess a moral center and exhibit sound leadership skills. Given our global realities, we need strategic leaders who possess cultural intelligence and theological discernment. The aim of this book is to shape such leaders. Each chapter combines careful research with contributions from leaders around the world. These voices bring much-needed insight to leadership issues when translated and applied in different settings, espec

Christians can often overlook the need to bring their daily vocations in accord with the reality created, sustained, and purposed through Christ. This is no less true for language teachers, who find themselves at a difficult interdisciplinary crossroads where the paths of linguistics, culture and education merge. This challenge should not discourage these educators, but instead aid them in their journey to form a pedagogy rooted in theological truths from Scripture, one that provides a nuance