First Ministry

Fervent passion for Jesus is often one of the first things to fade as we struggle through the daily grind of life, especially after grappling with disappointments and pain. Yet inherent in Jesus's call to return to our first love is his promise to help us never to lose it—to have a heart sustained in joy, delight, and passion for him all of our days. Dana Candler shares her own wrestle with weariness and unbelief, and reveals that a heart fully alive in Jesus is not only possible but is the promise and invitation of God's infinite grace.

In the pattern of his best-selling book The Master Plan of Evangelism, author Robert E. Coleman offers a close examination of how Jesus made disciples and how his followers did the same throughout the book of Acts.

In The First Christmas, two of today's top Jesus scholars, Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan, join forces to show how history has biased our reading of the nativity story as it appears in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Borg and Crossan help us to see this well-known narrative afresh by answering the question, "What do these stories mean?" in the context of both the first century and the 21st century. They successfully show that the Christmas story, read in its original context, is far richer and more challenging than people imagine.

The First Book of Enoch is also known as the Lost Book of Enoch, Ethiopic Enoch, and 1 Enoch. The Second Book of Enoch is also known as Slavonic Enoch, the Book of the Secrets of Enoch, and 2 Enoch. This is one of a very few books containing both ancient texts in one volume.

Full of larger-than-life characters, stunning acts of bravery, and heart-rending sacrifice, Tried by Fire narrates the rise and expansion of Christianity from an obscure regional sect to the established faith of the world's greatest empire with influence extending from India to Ireland, Scandinavia to Ethiopia, and all points in between.

The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ, also commonly referred to as The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (not to be confused with the apocryphal book simply called the Gospel of Thomas), dates to AD 185 and tells stories of the early events in the life of Christ, including miracles; although, also included are stories depicting the childhood Jesus behaving less sacredly than one might expect, which may be exactly the reason why the infancy gospels were never considered canon by the Church.

Stepping into the role of a First Lady is a sacred calling — one filled with honor, sacrifice, strength, and grace. In Clutching Her Sacred Pearls, Dr. Kimberly Eaton offers a biblical, practical, and deeply personal guide for women who have been called to walk alongside their husbands in ministry. Drawing on her own experiences as a First Lady, educator, and mentor, Dr. Eaton provides powerful lessons rooted in Scripture. She draws wisdom from the lives of Priscilla, Phoebe, Lydia, Lois, Eunice, and the Proverbs 31 Woman. Each chapter explores a distinct “Pearl” — essential ...

Every reference in the Bible to a healthy spiritual life is dependent on putting God first. But there are a lot of things that can get in the way of that ultimate priority--from over-working to over-thinking. Many times, our lives get complicated before we know it. Most of us don't willfully choose this; we silently slide into it. In this audio Bible study, Lisa Whittle helps you build up defenses against damaging thought patterns and learn to reorder your priorities to consistently put Jesus back on top.

In the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses 11 problems, in two categories. In the Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Witness Lee helps us see that Christ is the unique factor to solve the first six problems, and that the church is the unique factor to solve the final five problems.

It's time to start over from zero. What happened to the Western church? Why are we losing the generation under thirty and reaching so few nonbelievers? In Church Zero, Peyton Jones examines one of our biggest problems: squeezing our leaders into a mold that cuts their hair and drains away their commando strength. Scripture lays out a leadership model that worked explosively in the first century.

A simple and sustainable path to a deep and satisfying walk with Christ. What if it were possible, Pastor Stovall Weems asks, to boil it all down to one practical, uncomplicated principle that would yield the vibrant, purposeful spiritual life so many are looking for? What if, in our relationship with God, we had one simple and sustainable touch point to experience a deep and satisfying walk with Christ? In The God-First Life, Weems shows that true success in our walk with God and in life in general is not an issue of need, but an issue of order.

Are you a spiritual person? A mature Christian? The apostles do not think that you are unless you have mastered the basic principles of the oracles of God.

Serving in pastoral ministry is a wonderful privilege. It's also a major challenge and a complicated task, even for those convinced they've been called to the profession. Many young pastors confess that the responsibilities they inherit when assuming the role feel overwhelming. Leading a church is a form of ministry that can stretch and test the strongest of personalities. In this book, 11 seasoned pastors share formative stories from their early years of church leadership, along with valuable counsel on important subjects like; marriage, parenting, personal finances, handling ...

From a Biblical perspective of our human nature, we are "spirit and soul and body" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Understanding each dimension of our being and how each is to relate to the others, according to God's created order, is a strategic key of the Kingdom of God. Come take hold of this key that will revolutionize and revitalize your spiritual journey! Our human spirit should abide in deep communion with God’s Holy Spirit. Then our human spirit—infused and led by the Holy Spirit—should direct the mind, will, and emotions of our human soul, which should manifest in the health and well...

In the Last Words of Jesus, you'll experience a fresh encounter with Christ as Stu Epperson recounts the last seven statements uttered by Jesus on the cross, providing unique, thought-provoking insights and interspersing additional commentaries from many of Christianity's leading theologians and authors. This one-stop resource and devotional will help you understand more deeply...

Why don't Christians in the church today keep the biblical sabbath? Was the observance of the seventh-day sabbath done away with, canceled, changed, replaced, fulfilled, made obsolete, suppressed, hijacked, or simply forgotten? Even if you already know the answers, you'll want to listen to this book. From Sabbath to Sabbath approaches the question of the sabbath from a completely new messianic Jewish perspective.

"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..." So begins the first book in the Book of Mormon. In this brief theological introduction, philosopher and theologian Joseph M. Spencer investigates the central themes and purposes of a book he calls a "theological masterpiece". What was Nephi trying to accomplish with his writings? How can readers/listeners today make better sense of Nephi's words? What can an ancient seer offer readers/listeners in the 21st century? Spencer introduces a Nephi for our moment, a complex prophet with an urgent message for a world in turmoil.

This two-part book was compiled and edited by Mary Baker Eddy, the church’s founder. Part I (“The First Church of Christ, Scientist”) describes the building of The Mother Church Extension in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1906. Writings by Mary Baker Eddy and newspaper articles from across North America detail this significant architectural achievement and the rapid growth of Christian Science as a movement.

Historians, scholars, and theologians agree that first-century Christianity was a sect of Judaism, but where does that information place first-century Gentile Christians? What did it mean to be a Gentile who practiced Judaism in the days of the apostles? These are not just academic questions; they are at the heart of today's growing Messianic Jewish movement. How do non-Jews engage in the modern Messianic Jewish revival?

This is Tryst, First Royal and heir to the throne on Concordia. He's in a bit of trouble and his fiancée, Tyrra, has asked the Awesome Foursome to lend a helping hand. She thinks he has only one problem - a civil war which is about to break out. What she and her man don't know is that Tryst's cousin is going to frame him for treason. But war and treason are the least of their problems. When the last of the Shadow Reapers are gone, his world, and eventually the rest of the Pinwheel Galaxy, will be destroyed by an uncontrollable rift between our universe and a parallel one. The Ministry of ...