Church Ministry

Hear God's written Word spoken! Thomas Nelson introduces the NCV Audio Bible, perfect for travel or for anyone who loves to listen to stories. Ronnie Meek, a 17-year veteran pastor with 30 years of theater experience, narrates the most wonderful book ever written. You will be uplifted and inspired through the voice of this master storyteller and the all-original music score.

Apocrypha is a Greek word that means "something hidden". The term is often used for writings of the church that are not generally accepted as authentic or inspired. It is unclear what the motivation was for writing many of these works. But often they fill in gaps of information where the Bible is silent.

Do you ever feel like your life is moving at the speed of light? Are you constantly trying to "keep up" with all of your commitments and responsibilities? As a wife, mother, and co-pastor of Lakewood Church - America's largest church - Victoria Osteen knows as well as anyone that operating in so many different roles can be extremely demanding, yet she has managed to find balance, living her life in the unforced rhythms of grace.

Spirit and Sacrament by pastor and author Andrew Wilson is an impassioned call to join together two traditions that are frequently and unnecessarily kept separate. It is an invitation to pursue the best of both worlds in worship, the Eucharistic and the charismatic, with the grace of God at the center. Wilson envisions church services in which healing testimonies, creeds, exuberant praise, and ancient liturgy coexist, and in doing so, deepen our worship and increase our joy.

Understand the paradigmatic shift that is happening in city ministry around the world - the shift from internal church concern to external community focus - and learn how to live out and lead others in this missional approach.

In Radical, David Platt's plea for Christians to take back their faith from the American Dream resonated with readers everywhere and quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Now in Radical Together, the author broadens his call, challenging us to unite around a gospel-centered vision. How, he asks, might such a vision reshape our priorities as the body of Christ?

Maybe you have been there: you’re running late to church, and you know it will be hard to find an empty seat. This is an all-too-frequent experience in a growing church. For churches experiencing this dilemma, a common solution is to add another service or location. This seems like a cost-effective fix. Besides, no one wants to turn away non-Christians. But is it the best option? Jonathan Leeman presents a series of biblical, theological, and pastoral arguments to help reorient our minds to a scriptural definition of church.

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God…For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. [We are]...

The Heart of the Artist will give you a better understanding of yourself and your unique place in the body of Christ. You'll find wisdom and encouragement that can help you survive the challenges and reap the rich joys of a ministry in the creative arts. Each chapter includes provocative questions for group discussion and personal action steps for individual application. Somewhere between pride and self-abasement lies true humility - just one aspect of the balanced character God wants to instill in you as a creative person involved in ministry.

The Bible tells us that the congregation gathered around God's heavenly throne will be "a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language," all singing the praises of the Lamb. God's intention has always been to delight for all eternity in a redeemed community of ethnic diversity. But this diverse community shouldn't have to wait until eternity to begin! It can be a reality in our own local churches here and now. Patterned after a worship service, In Church as It Is in Heaven gives biblical warrant for such a community.

Ted Just try and have an unusual ministry like mine these days. What’s so terribly wrong with a hug a day, huh? A non-sexual hug? Why can’t I have a non-denominational ministry based on hugs and assistance with getting back on your feet without the paparazzi tailing me, the media blasting me, and my own parishioners afraid to come out of their houses? It’s not like my church does anything other than community outreach to the poor, homeless, and those who want a leg up. The ones whose families and communities couldn’t or wouldn’t help. I’m the friend who gets them back on their ...

In C. S. Lewis and the Catholic Church, Joseph Pearce delves into Lewis's life, writings, and spiritual influences to shed light on the matter. Although C. S. Lewis's conversion to Christianity was greatly influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien, a Catholic, and although Lewis embraced many distinctively Catholic teachings, such as purgatory and the sacrament of Confession, he never formally entered the Church.

In an audiobook eagerly awaited by her growing retinue of fans, she brings listeners inside the world's oldest Christian faith, illuminating Eastern Orthodoxy in a manner similar to Kathleen Norris's exploration of Benedictine spirituality. An ex-hippie and former social radical, the author often writes humorously about her unusual road from Woodstock to the altar of an Orthodox church, where she is the pastor's wife.

In this provocative new contribution to public theology, world-renowned theologian Miroslav Volf (named "America's New Public Intellectual" by Scot McKnight on his Jesus Creed blog) and Matthew Croasmun explain that the intellectual tools needed to rescue us from our present malaise and meet our new cultural challenge are the tools of theology. A renewal of theology is crucial to help us articulate compelling visions of the good life, find our way through the maze of contested questions of value, and answer the fundamental question of what makes life worth living.

Exiles is a powerful and deeply personal guide for anyone who has ever felt distant from God or out of place in their spiritual journey. Written by Gordon Campbell, the author of Don’t Question the Journey, this sequel dives into the emotional and spiritual challenges faced by those who, like the prodigal son, long to return home but fear the reception they may receive. With raw vulnerability and hard-earned wisdom, Gordon shares his own experiences of restoration, offering hope to those who have wandered far from God’s grace. Exiles is not just for the prodigals, but also for the ...

Guided by current research from Barna Group, Mettes illustrates the profound physical, emotional, and social toll of loneliness in the United States. Surprisingly, her research shows that it is not the oldest Americans but the youngest adults who are loneliest and that social media can actually play a positive role in alleviating loneliness.

In the COVID crisis, the beloved shepherd of over one billion Catholics saw the cruelty and inequity of our society exposed more vividly than ever before. He also saw, in the resilience, generosity, and creativity of so many people, the means to rescue our society, our economy, and our planet. In direct, powerful prose, Pope Francis urges us not to let the pain be in vain.

Many new believers have questions about what it means to live as a Christian in the context of a local church, and pastors are looking for resources to pass along to their congregations to help them think biblically about the Christian life. Church Questions is a series by 9Marks that seeks to provide Christians with sound and accessible biblical teaching by answering common questions about church life. Each booklet offers biblical answers and practical applications with the goal of nurturing healthy church practice and commitment.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt presents a compelling argument from Scripture, history, and his own personal experience that God calls women to serve as pastors and other leadership roles n the church. He addresses the church's obsession with "authority" and shows how it is at odds with Jesus and the New Testament. He addresses the two passages commonly used to limit women, I Timothy 2:11-12 and I Corinthians 14:34-35, and shows how, when placed in their historical context, it becomes clear that Paul was not placing restrictions on all women everywhere. He also discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in the ...

Churches have split and denominations have formed over the issue of church government. While many Christians can explain their church's form of rule or defend it because of its "tried and true" traditions, few people understand their church's administrative customs from a biblical perspective.