Bücher veröffentlicht von Zondervan

Young children live with awe and wonder as their daily companions. But as they grow, worries often crowd out wonder. Knowing this, how can parents strengthen their kids' love for the world so it sticks around for the long haul? Thankfully, parents have at their fingertips a miracle vaccineone that can boost their kids' immunity to the world's distractions. Well-chosen stories connect us with others, even those on the other side of the globe. Build your kids' lives on a story-solid foundation and you'll give them armor to shield themselves from the world's cynicism. You'll give them confidence to persevere in the face of life's conflicts. You'll give them a reservoir of compassion that spills over into a lifetime of love in action. Give Your Child the World features inspiring stories, practical suggestions, and carefully curated reading lists of the best children's literature for each area of the globe. Reading lists are organized by region, country, and age range (ages 4-12). Each listing includes a brief description of the book, its themes, and any content of which parents should be aware.Parents can introduce their children to the world from the comfort of home by simply opening a book together. Give Your Child the World is poised to become a bestselling family reading treasury that promotes literacy, develops a global perspective, and strengthens family bonds while increasing faith and compassion.

Are science and religion hopelessly at odds with one another in their view of truth? Not if you read physicist Michael Guillen's new book on truth, which shows that the two sources of truth, scientific and religious, are not opposed but in surprising agreement

Have you ever felt like a fraud or failure as you struggle to find balance in life? Do you find yourself juggling everything in mediocrity and feeling like you're succeeding at very little? In her no-nonsense style, Alli Worthington - popular podcaster and author of The Year of Living Happy - tackles the big questions about finding happiness and one's God-given purpose.Have you ever felt like a fraud or failure as you struggle to find balance in life? Do you find yourself juggling everything in mediocrity and feeling like you're succeeding at very little? In her no-nonsense way, Alli Worthington tackles the big questions about finding happiness and one's God-given purpose.Breaking Busy marries popular secular research from the fields of social and positive psychology with solid biblical principles, instilling readers with the confidence that they, too, can move from crazy busy to confident calm. With refreshing candor, uproarious true stories, and a Christian worldview, Alli delivers truths that dismantle common happiness myths. Then she empowers readers to get unstuck, to let go of the good to make way for the great, to know themselves and their Creator, and ultimately to find peace and purpose in this world of crazy.Learn how to stop chasing what leaves you empty and start doing what you were created to do. Identify the common lies you believe and how to strip their power from your life. Recognize how what you say no to determines what you can say yes to. With relatable anecdotes, Alli models for readers real-life guidance on boundaries, relationships, and self-care, humbly examining her own mistakes and walking them through how she learned from her missteps and found peace in a world of busyness.If you long to find real connection in an age of over-connectedness, with both your loved ones and your Creator, Alli Worthington deftly balances intelligent humility and heartwarming humor to help you rediscover your path.

All Groan Up: Searching for Self, Faith, and A Freaking Job! is the story of the GenY/Millennial generation told through the individual story of author Paul Angone. It's a story of struggle, hope, failure, and doubts in the twilight zone of growing up and being grown, connecting with his twentysomething post-college audience with raw honesty, humor, and hope.

In this refreshingly candid look at what it takes to live a life of faith, John Ortberg takes an honest look at the misgivings and uncertainties that often shake our beliefs as we navigate through the highs and lows of life.Reflecting on his own bouts with doubt and uncertainty, Ortberg shares with readers his discovery that, rather than being a contradiction in terms, doubt and faith may be very much a part of each other. He challenges readers to consider how doubt can motivate us to study and learn, how questioning expands our understanding, and how uncertainty can lead to trust. These challenges point us toward the relief of being totally honest.The right kind of doubt can be a gift-an action-generating truth that actually allows us to deepen our faith and intimacy with God. Written to challenge, comfort, and inspire readers, Know Doubt reveals uncertainty as a cause for celebration.

In Wrestling for My Life, WWE superstar Shawn Michaels shares from his heart about the highs and lows of his life inside the WWE. Included are some never-before-shared stories and an intimate look into his career as well as stories of hunting, family, and faith.With millions of fans, Michaels had adulation and all the attention he could ask for, but he discovered there was something more. When he became a committed Christian during his years in the WWE it had to affect everything. Michaels reveals what it is like to be a man of faith in this unusual world and shares insights for all of us.

If God has promised to give us the "e;peace that passes understanding,"e; why do we sometimes feel so anxious? What are we so afraid of? Are there ways of living that lead to peace? Conversely, are there ways of thinking and acting that lead to anxiety and a conflicted life? How does Jesus embody peace and where did his peace come from?Finding the Peace God Promises sets our longings for peace beside God's promise to provide it. Exploring the stories that shape us, the memories that define us, and the relationships that connect us, bestselling author Ann Spangler looks for ways to help us become more peaceful. What can we learn from Scripture, from Jewish tradition, from the Amish and others about rest, simplicity, healing, and peace? The stories she shares and the answers she discovers may surprise you, enabling you to experience the transformative peace God wants you to have.

In Brave Mom Sherry Surratt, president and CEO of MOPS International, shares honestly and openly about the fears every mom struggles with. From worry about your child's safety and health to wondering if you are a good parent, to fears about your marriage and loss of self-identity, Sherry comes alongside every mom with practical, real, and hopeful help for these common fears that we're all afraid to talk about.Sherry addresses the top ten mom fears and includes stories from real mom and shares the help and answers they have found. Filled with advice and insight from Sherry and the hope and grace found in God's wisdom, Brave Mom gives moms everything they need to leave fear behind and live the admittedly messy life of parenting with confidence and joy. Each chapter contains a prayer for moms to turn their fears over to God's protection and care.As the Mom Experts, MOPS provide moms around the country a connection to other moms, practical help to move ahead, and the warmth and grace of God's love.

Sara Hagerty masterfully draws from her own story of spiritual and physical barrenness to birth in readers a new longing for God. With exquisite storytelling and reflection, Hagerty guides readers to a tender place that God is holding just for thema place where he shapes the bitterness of lost expectations into deep, new places of knowing Him.In the age of fingertip access to answers and a limitless supply of ambitions, where do we find the God who was birthed in dirt and straw? Sara Hagerty found him when life stopped working for her. She found him when she was a young adult mired in spiritual busyness and when she was a new bride with doubts about whether her fledgling marriage would survive. She found him alone in the night as she cradled her longing for babies who did not come. She found him as she kissed the faces of children on another continent who had lived years without a mommy's touch.In Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet, Hagerty masterfully draws from the narrative of her life to craft a mosaic of a God who leans into broken stories. Here readers see a God who is present in every changing circumstance. Most significantly, they see a God who is present in every unchanging circumstance as wellWhatever lost expectations readers are facingin family, career, singleness, or marriageEvery Bitter Thing Is Sweet will bring them closer to a God who longs for them to know him more. What does it look like to know God's nearness when life breaks? What does it mean to receive his life when earthly life remains barren? How can God turn the bitterness of unmet desire into new flavors of joy?With exquisite storytelling and reflection, Hagerty brings readers back to hope, back to healing, back to a place that God is holding for them alonea place where the unseen is more real than what the eye can perceive. A place where every bitter thing is sweet.

Profoundly moving, fearlessly honest, and relentlessly hopeful, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans offers this must-read for anyone on the journey of doubt, deconstruction, and ultimately faith reborn.Eighty years after the Scopes Monkey Trial made a spectacle of Christian fundamentalism and brought national attention to her hometown, Rachel Held Evans faced a trial of her own when she began to have doubts about her faith.In Faith Unraveled, Rachel recounts growing up in a culture obsessed with apologetics, struggling as her own faith unraveled one unexpected question at a time.In order for her faith to survive, Rachel realizes, it must adapt to change and evolve. Using as an illustration her own spiritual journey from certainty to doubt to faith, Evans challenges you to disentangle your faith from false fundamentals and to trust in a God who is big enough to handle your tough questions.In a changing cultural environment where new ideas seem to threaten the safety and security of the faith, Faith Unraveled is a fearlessly honest story of survival.This book was previously titled Evolving in Monkey Town.

The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Unique Family addresses one of the top current concerns about youth and the church: the reality that nearly half of all young people raised in Christian families walk away from their faith when they graduate from high school. That's the bad news. But here's the good news: research also shows that parents are one of the primary influences on their child's faith.This book arises from the innovative, research-based, and extensively field-tested project known as ';Sticky Faith,' designed to equip parents with insights and ideas for nurturing long-term faith in children and young people. Because of the Fuller Youth Institute's six years of research with more than 500 young people, 100 churches, and 50 families, four of this guidebook's unique qualities make it a ';must have' for families eager to point their young people toward long-term faith.First, it's grounded in sophisticated, academically verified data. While Dr. Powell is a parent of three children who authentically weaves her own experiences throughout the book, the chapter topics correlate with parenting principles proven in national research.Second, it is positive. Amid gloomy and theoretical resources, this book leaves parents empowered and hopeful that even little tweaks to their family rhythms can make a big difference.Third, it is practical. Readers get what they want most: more than 100 ideas from other parents they can try today, this week, or this month.Fourth, its ';guidebook' format is accessible. For busy parents who don't have time and inclination to read, this format is a welcome resource that they can return to time and time again for fresh ideas and inspiration.

Herbert Cooper was headed down a very different road, living a reckless lifestyle that would have destroyed him in the end, but God had a different plan. He heard the gospel at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting, at which he wasn't even supposed to be, and he gave his life to Christ. Two words changed Cooper's life: But God.These two words can change every single person's life- But God. Each word is only three letters long. The phrase is short, but the implications are huge. The path may look bleak, dim, and hopeless...but GOD changes everything...We've all sinned - whether it is sex outside of marriage, a bitter heart, alcohol or drug abuse, cheating, or lying. Maybe you're at a place in your life where it just feels like things are falling apart. Perhaps you're portraying one thing on the outside and living something else on the inside. Maybe you are simply going through the motions of a life that's not quite what you hoped it would be. These moments drag us down - leaving us feeling hopeless and lost.You need something to happen in your life to change.You need a But God... moment.The But God moments are when God comes in and offers a new path and hope for our lives. These moments occur when we are at are lowest, and turn our down-trodden worlds around for the better. It is up to us to recognize and seize these moments when they occur and follow the renewed path God offers.

"e;This is a book I'll be recommending for years to come."e; -Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling authorDo you believe God is just not fair?If you're like Jennifer Rothschild, you wrestle with questions when you experience painful circumstances.Does God care? Does he hear my prayers? Is he even there?Blinded as a teenager, Jennifer overcame daunting obstacles, found strength in God, and launched a successful speaking and writing ministry.Then in her 40's, everything changed.Jennifer hit a wall of depression and discontent that shook her to her core, undermining many of her past assumptions about her faith. Jennifer wondered who God was and why he continued to allow her to struggle and doubt.Where, Jennifer pleaded,is his hand of healing and hope in my life now?This is a book about finding more than just answers. It's for anyone who needs hope when life doesn't make sense-for all who reach for a God who feels distant.As Jennifer tackles the six big questions of faith, she will help you:Trust God more than your feelings.Strengthen your faith when you feel beat up by life.Embrace your obstacles and start experiencing their purpose.Face your disappointment and grow stronger from your loss.

We all yearn to look back to find we lived a life of significance. But is it even possible anymore? Considering the amount of distraction and pressure that exists in society today, living a fulfilling life may seem like an unachievable dream. But it is notnot with the nine habits outlined in this book.New York Times bestselling author and widely known blogger, Rachel Macy Stafford, reveals nine habits that help you focus on investing in the most significant parts of your life. As your hands, heart, and eyes become open, you will experience a new sense of urgencyan urgency to live, love, dream, connect, create, forgive, and flourish despite the distractions of our culture. By following each daily Hands Free Declaration, you will be inspired to adopt mindful daily practices and new thought-processes that will help you:*; Make meaningful, lasting human connections despite the busyness of everyday life.*; Live in the now despite that inner nudge pushing you out of the moment toward perfection and productivity.*; Protect your most sacred relationships, as well as your values, beliefs, health, and happiness, despite the latent dangers of technology and social media.*; Pursue the passions of your heart without sacrificing your job or your daily responsibilities.*; Evaluate your daily choices to insure you are investing in a life that matters to you.With a Hands Free Life perspective, you will have the power to look back and see you didn't just manage life, you actually lived itand lived it well.

Speak, by popular blogger Nish Weiseth, is a book about the power of telling our own stories and hearing those of others to change hearts, build bridges, advocate for good, make disciples with grace, and proclaim God's kingdom on Earth today.Nish Weiseth exhorts today's Christians to follow Jesus' example by using story as a vehicle for change. After all, Jesus was a master storyteller. He frequently and effectively used the art of storytelling to communicate deep truths about God, humanity, love, and eternity to a culture on the brink. His stories defied social norms, revealed God's Kingdom, and fiercely advocated for the least of these.With examples from Scripture as the foundation, Speak is a call for grace, openness, and vulnerability within the evangelical church. Nish Weiseth encourages those in the Body of Christ to know their own story of transformation and redemption-and to use those stories as a catalyst for change at both a personal and global level.

What principles enabled the concerned mom of two junior high school students to move from deciding she needed to pray for her kids at school to becoming the founder of a worldwide prayer movement called Moms In Prayer International?Fern Nichols is a passionate believer in the power of prayer. She knows that a regular habit of prayer can change things--can bring home wayward children, heal broken marriages, and provide answers to desperate situations. Prayer can also bring a new kind of peace and contentment no matter what hardships or disappointments we face. But most important, Fern knows that through prayer we can experience, firsthand, an ever-increasing intimacy with God.In Moms In Prayer, Fern Nichols reveals how she teaches women to pray in a way that changes their lives and the lives of those they love. She teaches the principles and practices that will not only revolutionize the way people think about prayer, but the way they do pray, leading them into a deeper intimacy with Jesus, who is always interceding on our behalf.Sparkling with real-life stories of God at work in the lives of praying moms, Fern introduces us to the four prayers that are the foundation of the Moms In Prayer approach to prayer:Praise--Praying according to the attributes of GodConfession--Breaking strongholdsThanksgiving--Expressing a grateful heartIntercession--Standing in the gap with Jesus.What transforms these well-known elements of prayer into such a powerful force in Moms In Prayer International? Fern Nichols introduces a way of praying that energizes, creates an appetite for intimacy with God, overcomes spiritual paralysis, eliminates fear, unveils the heart and character of God, and transforms the pray-er's life and perspective. She teaches how to pray effectively with others, how to prepare for the spiritual battles that swirl when prayer is on the move, how to persist in prayer in the face of hopelessness and despair, and how to use Scripture for effective prayer. God hears

Discover the power, joy, and love of living "e;hands free"e; from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Macy Stafford. Hands Free Mama is the digital society's answer to finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world.If technology is the new addiction, then multi-tasking is the new marching order. We check our email while cooking dinner, send a text while bathing the kids, and spend more time looking into electronic screens than into the eyes of our loved ones. With our never-ending to-do lists and jam-packed schedules, it's no wonder we're distracted.But this isn't the way it has to be. Special education teacher and mother Rachel Macy Stafford says enough is enough. Tired of losing track of what matters most in life, Rachel began practicing simple strategies that enabled her to momentarily let go of largely meaningless distractions and engage in meaningful soul-to-soul connections. She started a blog to chronicle her endeavors and soon saw how both external and internal distractions had been sabotaging her happiness and preventing her from bonding with the people she loves most.Finding balance doesn't mean giving up all technology forever. And it doesn't mean forgoing our jobs and responsibilities. What it does mean is seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. It means looking our loved ones in the eye and giving them the gift of our undivided attention, leaving the laundry till later to dance with our kids in the rain, and living a present, authentic, and intentional life despite a world full of distractions.So join Rachel and go hands-free. Discover what happens when you choose to open your heart - and your hands - to the possibilities of each God-given moment.

This powerful booklet, excerpted from All In tells us that the Gospel costs nothing, but demands everything. If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. It's all or nothing. It's now or never. It's time to ante up and go all in with God.No one has ever sacrificed anything for God. If you always get back more than you gave up, have you sacrificed anything at all? The eternal reward always outweighs the temporal sacrifice. At the end of the day, our greatest regret will be whatever we didn't give back to God. What we didn't push back across the table to Him. Eternity will reveal that holding out is losing out.Batterson writes, "e;For many years, I thought I was following Jesus. I wasn't. I had invited Jesus to follow me. I call it inverted Christianity. And it's a subtle form of selfishness that masquerades as spirituality. That's when I sold out and bought in. When did we start believing that the gospel is an insurance plan? It's a daring plan. Jesus did not die just to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous."e;

Can we trust a God who gives us different answers than we pray for? Who only fully reveals himself when we look back? Who lets us walk in darkness for months (and sometimes years) at a time? In Finding Faith in the Dark, Laurie Short says yes, and through her story and the stories of others, she reveals a God who is able to transform the dark chapters of our lives into opportunities of grace.Maybe you've been there:The husband or wife you stayed faithful to had an affairThe death of a spouse or child has torn your heartA diagnosis has taken away your health, your plans and your futureWhen these things happen, we are left wondering "e;Where is that God who promises to answer our prayers if we trust in Him? Why isn't my life turning out the way I hoped, let alone how I had planned?"e;If you are, or have ever been, in that place, this book is for you. And more than helping you find your way out, this book will help you find your way through that place.

"e;The Bible is a Book of precious promises; all the way we have to travel, they seem to be like a series of stepping-stones across the stream of time, and we may march from one promise to another, and never wet our feet all the way from earth to heaven, if we do but know how to keep our eyes open, and to find the right promise to step upon."e; Charles Spurgeon

"e;My story is not about my past, but about your future,"e; says Marie Roberts Monville.In the startling tragedy of the Amish schoolhouse shooting at Nickel Mines, one story has never been told; Marie Roberts Monville, the wife of the man who created such horror, tells her story for the very first time. It is a story of sorrow and destruction, but also one of majestic deliverance, unending compassion, breathtaking forgiveness, and grace-filled redemption.Within a solitary moment, Marie Monville realized that life, as she knew it, was over. What she never anticipated was a tangible encounter with God reaching into her circumstances, through them rewriting all she believed about herself, her faith, and the God she thought she knew. One Light Still Shines reveals three love stories: the innocent love of a devoted wife for a husband in pain, the incomprehensible love of God in the aftermath of massacre and destruction, and the redemptive love of Christ, waiting to unfold in the life of every person who reads this book.Marie's journey since that darkest of days has been invaded with light which shines through these pages into the darkest questions we all face--questions about our past, our value, our identity, and own powerlessness in this fallen world. Come face to face with the Power behind every answer-a love that begs to be received.

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTUREstarring Robert Duvall and Lucas BlackThis book is about influence and inspiration and a deeper, more profound way of looking at life. The story is based on thousands of athletes who author and performance psychologist Dr. David Cook has counseled, and the great mentors and teachers from whom he has learned. Told through the lives of two characters-an eccentric rancher with a passion for teaching truth, and a young golf professional at the end of his rope looking to escape the pressures of the game-they represent each one of us in our various stages of growth. And through them we are reminded that, in life, we must be willing to coach and be coached.Life is never the same once you've been to Utopia."e;Read it. Devour it. Keep it as a reference book. You'll be glad you did. Golf's Sacred Journey is a remarkable and encouraging story with an entirely different approach on how to succeed in your golf game."e;-Zig Ziglar, leading motivational expert and bestselling author"e;This book is full of wisdom that will enhance your game and I believe it just may change your life."e;-David Robinson, NBA MVP, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, Two Time World Champion

Raised in a broken family and emotionally overlooked, Sherry Gore grew up without a solid foundation, a prisoner of her own poor choices, and at times without hope. A series of terrible mistakes left her feeling wrecked and alone and a sudden tragedy threw Sherry into an emotional tailspin too powerful to escape.Sherry hangs by a thread, unable to see how she can go on living, until it happens: on a morning of no particular significance, she walks into a church and BAM the truth of Jesus' forgiving love shatters her world and cleaves her life in two: She goes to bed stunned; she wakes up a Christian.Unwilling to return to the darkness of her former life, Sherry attacks her faith head on. Soon the life Sherry Gore remakes for herself and her children as she seeks to follow the teachings of the Bible features head coverings, simple dress, and a focus on Jesus Christ. Only then does she realize, in a fit of excitement, that there are others like her. They are called Amish and Mennonite, and she realizes she has found her people.The plain choice that Sherry makes is not easy and life still brings unexpected pain and heartache - but it changes everything for her, as she becomes one of the few people on earth to have successfully joined the Amish from the outside. She has found her place. And her story proves that one can return from the darkest depths to the purest light with the power of God.

Joel Manby from Undercover Boss shares how leaders at every level can harness the meaning of love, the verb, and improve their culture and bottom line.Before Joel Manby won the respect of America with his appearance on the CBS reality TV series Undercover Boss, he was a highly successful corporate executive. After the show aired, many of the 18 million viewers wrote to him about the profound impact of his servant leadership. In Love Works, Joel Manby introduces us to the power of agape love in the workplace. After years of leading thousands of men and women, Manby has proven that leading with love is effective, even in a business environment. Manby challenges leaders to allow integrity and faith to guide leadership decisions, outlining seven time-proven principles that break down the natural walls within corporate cultures, empowering managers and employees, disarming difficulties, and cultivating an atmosphere that builds long-term success. Manby also leverages the undeniable truth that love builds healthy relationships at home---why not use the same behavior to build healthy relationships at work?

In The Case for Grace, bestselling author Lee Strobel crafts a compelling and highly personal case for God, focusing on God's transforming work in the lives of men and women today.In this book, you'll encounter racists, addicts, and even murderers who have found new hope and purpose. You'll meet once-bitter people who have received God's power to forgive those who have harmed them - and, equally amazing, people mired in guilt who have discovered that they can even forgive themselves.Writing with unusual candor, Lee draws upon his own journey from atheism to Christianity to explore the depth and breadth of God's redeeming love for spiritually wayward people. He travels thousands of miles to capture the inspiring stories of everyday people whose values have been radically changed and who have discovered the "e;how"e; and "e;why"e; behind God's amazing grace.Through it all, you will be encouraged as you see how God's grace can revolutionize your eternity and relationships . . . starting today.Also available: The Case for Grace Spanish edition, kids' edition, and student edition. Plus, be sure to check out Lee Strobel's entire collection of Case for... books:The Case for Christ investigates the historical evidence for JesusThe Case for a Creator explores the scientific evidence for GodThe Case for Faith responds to eight major objections about Christianity . . . and more!

As standards of conduct continue to erode in our shock-proof world, we must fight the soul pollution threatening our health, our faith, and our witness to others. Without even knowing it, people willingly inhale second-hand toxins poisoning their relationship with God and stunting their spiritual growth. Soul Detox examines the toxins that assault us daily including: toxic influences, toxic emotions, and toxic behaviors. By examining the toxins that assault us daily, this book offers the ultimate spiritual intervention with ways to remain clean, pure, and focused on the standard of God's holiness

On a Sunday in May 2008, an F-5 tornado struck the town of Parkersburg, Iowa, killing eight people and destroying 250 homes and businesses within 34 seconds. The next day, Parkersburg's beloved football coach, Ed Thomas, made a stunning prediction: "e;God willing, we will play our first home game here on this field this season."e; One hundred days later, the home team scored a victory on the field they dubbed "e;The Sacred Acre,"e; serving as a galvanizing point for the town to band together and rebuild.But just as Parkersburg was recovering, another devastating tragedy struck. While working with a group of football and volleyball players early one morning, one of Ed's former students walked in and gunned him down point blank. Ed Thomas was 58.The murder of this hometown hero spread across national news headlines. Ed's community and family reeled from shock. Yet the story doesn't end here.What happened next proves that even a double tragedy is no match for faith, love ... and the power of forgiveness.

Their odds were 100,000 to one.Her faith was 1 in a million.In The Gift of Love, bestselling fiction author Amy Clipston shares her story of almost losing the love of her life to kidney disease and the ultimate sacrifice that kept their family together. An ordinary woman who cherishes family above all else, Amy was challenged in every way-from her strength of character to the depths of her faith to the close-knit family that surrounds her. Enduring the good, the bad, and the really bad, she was determined to help her husband once again be the husband and father their family needed.Amy's story will give hope and encouragement to anyone who finds themselves waiting on God. Staring down adversity, Amy and her family received the most important gift of all, the gift of love. And regardless of your situation, this gift can be yours too.An inspirational story of strength and determination, The Gift of Love is the triumph of one woman's faith against all odds, and a soul-filling reminder that no matter how hard life gets, it is worth fighting for.

Do the programs crowding the typical church's weekly schedule today lack an essential element, one that is fundamental to their having the greatest spiritual impact?This biblically grounded book asserts that many leaders overlook the necessary precondition of discerning and cooperating with the empowering will of the Holy Spirit before putting their plans into action. Growing the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit is a highly practical guide for nurturing relations between believers and the Holy Spirit, a process facilitated by seven dynamics.* Love that draws us into engagement* Faith and obedience* Receiving divine guidance* Exercising spiritual discernment* Welcoming the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit* Intercessory prayer that shapes the future* Seeing and responding to kairos momentsAdvanced by the church leadership and brought into being by the Holy Spirit, these factors help congregations preach and teach, worship, heal, govern, make disciples of converts, and evangelize. One of this book's strengths is the use of case studies to illustrate how the seven dynamics can take root in local congregations.

Over the years, Ann Spangler has read through the Bible several times, plowing straight through from Genesis to Revelation. But like many people who tend to be self-critical, Ann found it easier to absorb the harsher-sounding passages in the Bible than those that speak of God's love and compassion.Then one day, Ann listened as her friend Joan talked about a time in her life when she became convinced of God's love. Ann expected her friend to reveal something complicated and difficult, a tragedy perhaps that God had brought her through. But Joan had simply decided to set aside one month in which she would act as though God loved her. And that settled it for her-for good.In the months that followed, Ann decided to develop a remedial course in which she could reflect morning and evening on the most tender words of God in the Bible. She prayed that God's penetrating Word would transform her as she hunted through Scripture for words of mercy, compassion, peace, and protection. The Tender Words of God is the result of this process, offering ninety days of devotional readings on some of Scripture's most encouraging words. While the core of the book is Scripture, each week contains reflections and daily prayers that chronicle Ann's struggle to know God better. These are included not because she believes her quest is all that remarkable, but precisely because she knows it is ordinary, expressing as it does our common longing to love and be loved, especially by the One who made us. Ann invites you to join her on this journey to know God better, to let his tender words become like guardians at the beginning and at the end of each day, convincing you once and for all of his faithful, committed love.