We are reminded on an almost daily basis of public scandals in government and business . . . and even in the church. Sometimes we condemn fallen brothers or sisters and try to dodge the shared embarrassment by pushing them out of our lives. On other occasions, however, we move too quickly through issues of apology, forgiveness, and restoration. This booklet, written by professional Christian counselor Ken Ellis, describes obstacles to genuine restoration and a biblical model of forgiveness that will avoid making a bad situation worse.
What should we expect of the church? What are the key elements that help a church to be a meaningful influence in a believer’s life? This booklet considers the kinds of needy people who make up the church and how we are to respond to their needs. From the history of the seven churches of Revelation 2–3 and from our own experience, we see the wisdom of God’s plan being worked out through His church.
Yes, even in the church there is the possibility of friction, discord, and conflict. Why does this happen in the body of believers, and what are the answers for conflict when it comes? Surviving church conflict is the theme of this booklet, and the practical advice it offers can help us to navigate the minefields of friction in the local church.
Pastoral ministry on behalf of Christ is a desperately needed, wonderfully difficult, and potentially dangerous calling. Rewarding as it can be, no one ever said it would be easy, safe, or even what we expected.
With such realism and love for fellow ministers, Bill Crowder combines the wisdom of Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 1:5 with his own years of experience and brings us back, in his words, to “what we do, why we do it, and how we do it—so that through the communication of God’s Word, people might know and embrace the great and awesome love of God.”
Every Christian is called by God to be a part of a local assembly of believers for worship, accountability, and service. But with so many churches to choose from, how can we know where to entrust our own spiritual growth and the spiritual welfare of our families? This classic study by Richard W. De Haan gives clear biblical guidelines for selecting a church home.
In the early days of the church, followers of Christ had to be on the alert for false teachers in their midst. That’s still true today. We have to be careful not to be led astray by the persuasive words of teachers who would bring us spiritual harm. To help us in this battle for our hearts and minds is a short New Testament letter that is often overlooked—Jude. In this booklet, which is a verse-by-verse study of Jude, we’ll explore the wisdom of this brother of Christ and examine his description of the characteristics and methods of false teachers of all generations.
Could a letter change your life? Many people approach their mailboxes each day hoping to find a letter that will turn everything around—a job offer, a college scholarship, or, best of all, a love letter. Revelation 2–3 contains seven letters from Jesus to His people in Asia. Although they were written to specific churches long ago, they speak powerfully to our hopes, fears, and deepest needs today. Each letter ends with a plea for the reader to hear the message from God’s Spirit and take the truth to heart. If we do, we will discover these letters to be our own life-changing messages from the risen Lord.
In recent years, a great controversy has developed in the church about the role of women. This booklet, which looks beyond culture to examine the issue biblically, comes to a balanced position that recognizes the giftedness of all believers, yet honors the biblical standards for church leadership. This extremely important study offers helpful insights in a highly controversial issue.
Do you view worship as a burdensome activity? If you do, your worship has little to do with God. Much of what we call worship today is not really worship at all. It involves so much more than meeting together, singing, and studying. This booklet was written to show us from the Bible what worship really is and why it’s so important to our relationship with God.