Recommendations based on "The Familiar Stranger (Re)Introducing the Holy Spirit to Those in Search of an Experiential Spirituality"

If the Bible isn't a science book or an instruction manual, what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she embarked on a journey to better understand what the Bible is and how it's meant to be read. What she discovered changed her--and it can change you, too.Evans knows firsthand how a relationship with the Bible can be as real and as complicated as a relationship with a family member or close friend. In Inspired, Evans explores contradictions and questions from her own experiences with the Bible, including: If the Bible was supposed to explain the mysteries of life, why does it leave the reader with so many questions? What does it mean to be chosen by God? To what degree did the Holy Spirit guide the preservation of these narratives, and is there something sacred to be uncovered beneath all these human fingerprints? If the Bible has given voice to the oppressed, why is it also used as justification by their oppressors?Drawing on the best in biblical scholarship and using her well-honed literary expertise, Evans examines some of our favorite Bible stories and possible interpretations, retelling them through memoir, original poetry, short stories, and even a short screenplay.Undaunted by the Bible's most difficult passages and unafraid to ask the hard questions, Evans wrestles through the process of doubting, imagining, and debating the mysteries surrounding Scripture. Discover alongside Evans that the Bible is not a static text, but a living, breathing, captivating, and confounding book that can equip us and inspire us to join God's loving and redemptive work in the world.

Here one of the most widely read theologians of our time returns to the most basic question of all: God. Yet she does so with a twist. Soelle's work invites the reader on a personal quest for a new, world-embracing notion of God, one that can counter the gravitational pull of first-world people's political apathy, material acquisitiveness, and spiritual numbness.In these nine short chapters, Soelle seeks to leverage our incipient desire for social, political, and gender justice into commitment to God's justice. The question of God becomes, then, not an argument or even a summons but a deeper engagement with life itself and its central mysteries.One of Soelle's most beautiful books, Theology for Skeptics is a brave confession and an engaged meditation on the central themes of religion.

While most Christians want to honor and glorify God, few fully understand the absolute sacrifice that He asks. Sanders provides mature inspiration and instruction for spiritual growth. You'll find probing insight into biblical requirements for true discipleship in the Lord's service. Includes study questions.

A new commentary for today's world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible's grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike. Each volume employs three main, easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's story: LISTEN to the Story: Includes complete NIV text with references to other texts at work in each passage, encouraging the reader to hear it within the Bible's grand story. EXPLAIN the Story: Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting. LIVE the Story: Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students.   —1 Peter— Peter shows a strong dependance upon the Old Testament to connect his readers to the story of God in which God draws people into a community. Peter demonstrates that the Christian community is to be a united people of God, not merely a group of individuals who happen to possess similar beliefs. Edited by Scot McKnight and Tremper Longman III, and written by a number of top-notch theologians, The Story of God Bible Commentary series will bring relevant, balanced, and clear-minded theological insight to any biblical education or ministry.

God has a personal vision for our lives, and He wants us to know it even more than we do. But determining God’s will can be a difficult process, especially when we need to make a decision in a hurry. The Discovering God’s Will DVD and its companion study guide, designed for small groups or personal study, take you through the important steps of decision making, pursuing God’s will, seeking counsel from others, learning to use discernment, and understanding the mind of God through Scripture as you seek His will. The DVD includes 4 complete sermons and eight 12- to 15-minute group sessions that correspond with the study guide. The study guide, which includes a leader’s guide, will help outline the amazing plan God has in mind for your life. How to Make Decisions with Confidence God has a wonderful and fulfilling vision for your life. Yet determining God’s will can be a difficult process, especially when you need to make a decision quickly! Designed for small groups or personal study, this companion study guide to the Discovering God’s Will DVD will take you through the important steps of decision making: Pursuing God’s will Seeking counsel from others Learning to use discernment Understanding the mind of God through Scripture Includes eight sessions (and a leader’s guide) that will outline the amazing plan God has for your life. Story Behind the Book In an effort to focus Multnomah’s mission to equip the church and to make the "bride" more beautiful, the company developed a relationship with Andy Stanley and North Point Community Church to publish a selection of the church’s resources and distribute them to a broader market. Reaching the church is a strategic goal of Multnomah, and we realize that the emerging generation needs resources that deliver truth in fresh, new ways. Andy’s leadership will keep North Point on the edge for a long time to come. North Point is one of the most influential churches in the nation and their teaching is already highly sought after. They have a voice for the 20- to 30-something generation. North Point Resources can effectively produce a vast selection of products (books, CDs, DVDs, multimedia) at a high level of quality. They share a complementary heart and vision with Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

An accessible survey of the meaning, methodologies, themes, and applications of biblical theologyTo understand what the entire Bible teaches about any given subject, we must practice biblical theology. By surveying the whole canon of Scripture, we can best discern what God has revealed about any particular issue. But doing so requires answering a number of important questions: What type of biblical theology will we choose? What overall story does the Bible tell? How should we understand the relationship between the Old and New Testaments? How does our topic fit within salvation history? How do we apply the truths we discover?40 Questions About Biblical Theology provides resources to answer these key questions in order to guide readers in their own study and practice of biblical theology. Other vital topics the authors address include how to understand typology, key themes in biblical theology, and how Christians should relate to Old Testament promises.Ideal for courses on biblical theology, for pastors, and for anyone who teaches or interprets Scripture, 40 Questions on Biblical Theology will deepen your understanding and application of the whole counsel of God.

Where have all the disciples gone?There is a missing force in Christianity today. It’s a critical one, and its absence has led to weak believers, disintegrating families, ineffective churches, and a decaying culture. Without it, we lack what we need to fully live as heaven’s representatives on earth.  That missing force is discipleship. In Kingdom Disciples, Tony Evans outlines a simple, actionable definition of discipleship to help the church fulfill its calling. Readers will learn:What a disciple isWhat a disciple cares aboutHow to be a disciple and make disciplesWhat discipleship looks like in communityWhat the impact of discipleship on the world can beKingdom disciples are in short supply, and the result is a legion of powerless Christians attending powerless churches, having a powerless presence in the world. The power, authority, abundance, victory, and impact God has promised will only come about when we understand and align ourselves with His definition of discipleship. Kingdom Disciples calls believers and churches back to our primary, divinely ordained responsibility to be disciples and make disciples. Only when we take seriously this assignment will the world see heaven at work on earth. Will you accept the assignment?Kingdom Disciples isuseful as base material for a course on discipleship. 

Pastor DeYoung counsels Christians to settle down, make choices, and do the hard work of seeing those choices through. God has already revealed his plan for Christians' lives: to love Him and to obey His Word.

“God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Bible tells us that we are to worship the Lord, that we were created for this purpose. But what is true worship? What does the Bible teach about the right—and the wrong—ways to worship God? In this book, pastors Brian Croft and Jason Adkins unpack a biblical theology of worship, discuss the practical matters of planning a worship service, and offer suggestions and insights on the best way to lead a worship service that honors the Lord. The Practical Shepherding series of guides provides pastors and ministry leaders with practical help to do the work of pastoral ministry in a local church. In Gather God’s People, you will learn how to apply biblical doctrine and spirituality to the practice of Christian worship.

Christians today face a dilemma: in a world that seems to reject everything we believe, how do we walk closely with God without caving to pressure or alienating those we hope to reach? In The Daniel Dilemma, Chris Hodges provides a solution by examining the life of the prophet Daniel, who persevered in a corrupt culture that closely resembles our own--and emerged as an influential force in God's redemptive plan. Full of timeless scripture and Hodges' candid personal insights, The Daniel Dilemma shows us that standing for truth isn't about winning the argument; it's about winning hearts. When we learn the secret of connecting before correcting, we discover that we can: Hold firmly to biblical beliefs without becoming obnoxious, insulting, or mad Stand strong while loving others well Respond to today's hard questions without compromising grace or truth With fresh insights and practical ideas, Hodges encourages Christians struggling with our cultural reality to hold God's standards high and his grace deep--just as Jesus did, and just as his followers today are called to do. Praise for The Daniel Dilemma: "This is one of the most needed messages of our time. Pastor Chris has wisely penned these words with solid truth and tender grace. He brings us back to what God's Word says regarding the cultural issues we're all wrestling with as Christians." --Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries "Like the prophet Daniel's beacon from Babylon, Chris Hodges offers us a wake-up call to shake off the cultural idolatry around us and instead stand firm in our faith. This book displays all the things I love about Chris--his honesty and humor, his practical approach and devotion to God's Word--this is his best yet!" --Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women