Church Development

Many men don't have a good role model for how to love their wives. From the crucible of real-life experience and study of God's Word, Larry McCall delivers a powerful message that there is a model of perfect husband-wife love. This helpful volume explores aspects and implications of using Christ as our model in marriage.

Most of us want to change something about ourselves - our stress levels, weight, relationships, or our performance at work. Change is hard and emotional, but it’s not as tough as you think. In this life-changing book, Gabija takes us on an eye-opening journey through the extraordinary human brain, explaining the science behind what makes us tick. With practical tools and simple tips, Gabija shows how you can make change happen.

In a society where it seems sex is talked about everywhere but within the four walls of the church, and where it seems to be sizzling everywhere except the marriage bed, it appears we may have a problem on our hands. With her signature warmth and transparency, Joy takes on the myths and mysteries of sex and marriage within the Christian subculture.

In this delightfully witty and uplifting book, 30-something Lauren Windle shines a light on the trials and tribulations - and sometimes also the triumphs - of the world of Christian dating. This is not a how-to guide.

In a world full of relationships, both personal and professional, understanding the human mind is absolutely necessary. However, when you add religion and church politics into the mix, discerning how God made mankind is paramount. In this book, Jesus and the Enneagram, you will learn how to impact and encourage every personality type. The Enneagram is an incredible tool which can help people better grasp how God made every individual and how we can better love Him and His Church!

On a scale of one to terrific tantalizing twosome, how would you rate your marriage? In this fast-paced, practical, and often humorous audiobook, Brian and Connie Thomson share 10 vital keys to marital success that they have learned from more than 40 years of marriage, ministry, and counseling.

Ministry isn’t supposed to drain your soul. But far too many pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders find themselves exhausted, overwhelmed, and on the edge of burnout—wondering if excellence in ministry is even possible without sacrificing their health, family, or joy. This practical, biblically grounded guide is for leaders who are passionate about serving God with excellence—but are ready to do so in a healthier, more sustainable way.

In the 1980s, Erika Bornman’s family join, and ultimately move to, KwaSizabantu, a Christian mission based in KwaZulu-Natal, which is touted as a nirvana, founded on egalitarian values. But something sinister lurks beneath ‘the place where people are helped’. Life at KwaSizabantu is hard. Christianity is used to justify harsh punishments, and congregants are forced to repent for their sins. Threats of physical violence ensure adherence to stringent rules. Parents are pitted against children. Friendships are discouraged.

Some people believe that porn can be helpful in a relationship. However, the majority of research claims there are very few cases where pornography has actually been helpful in a marriage. This is because porn is not designed to help you feel content with your marriage partner. Instead, it is designed to make you feel dissatisfied. This is exactly why something as simple as watching porn almost always turns into a negative consequence.

Prepare to embark on a remarkable journey. As my story unfolds, it was 2015–I was sitting at my computer, planning my gospel doctrine class. I stood up to get something, and I instantly transcended into a spiritual encounter, an overwhelming deep-seated sensation of instant knowledge that went down to my cells. When I opened my eyes from this Experience, I saw the world differently. I walked slowly into my bedroom and took my garments off. I’ve never gone back to the Mormon Church or any church, since.

This book is about the various places and ways that uncertainty shows up for parents who, having left or altered the faith they once knew, now must decide what to give their kids. It’s about church attendance, Bible memorization, school choices, and sex talks. It’s about forging new paths in racial justice and creation care while the intractable voices in your head call you a pagan Marxist for doing so.

A Weed in the Church: How a culture of age segregation is harming the next generation, fragmenting the family, and dividing the church. While almost everyone involved in youth ministry agrees there is a crisis, not everyone agrees on its severity nor has the same diagnosis. A Weed in the Church suggests that this well-recognized crisis has a specific cause, which will surprise many. Brown argues that while scripture defines and wholeheartedly encourages youth discipleship, the premises of modern youth ministry are at odds with biblical teaching and must be reformed.

The author avers that evangelization is the ripple process of making converts, initiating them into the body of Christ, and transforming them into committed disciples of Jesus. He also explains that a nexus exists between evangelization and Christian development in which the latter has its root in the former and integrally stems from it. The ultimate essence and gamut of evangelization is the continuous, healthy growth of its human organ, which is the church. This book is a good read for church workers, leaders, missionaries, seminarians, and young converts.

We all long for the perfect marriage. Implicit trust, unspoken understanding, deep talks, fits of laughter, passionate intimacy, shared commonalities, and spontaneous adventures are just some of the joys of marriage. It begins with learning about who you both are in Christ, about His specific and complete love for you individually, and putting in action the particular scriptures designed to keep you and your spouse on track to the marriage of your dreams.

Hilarious, inspiring, and thoroughly authentic, Sara E. Braca’s debut memoir takes listeners along on her post-divorce adventures around the world, sharing a life lived fully–if untraditionally–and proving that joy can always be found in unexpected places.

Just like the Israelites in the desert, we are all fundamentally longing for God… but who and what are we actually reaching for and serving? Disobedient God addresses the things we do when we feel ignored, inconvenienced and frustrated by God. What things are we reaching for in our life? Are we reaching for porn when we long for intimacy? Reaching for success when we long for security? We would never say that we have replaced God, but our actions tell a different story.

How can the people of God develop churches in ways that help and don't hurt poor neighborhoods? Pastors and church planters interested in Christian community development will find here practical insights into the power of the local church, which is often underrated. Churches can serve their communities and improve the quality of life of every facet of the neighborhood.

When Mike Pence was a young politician, reporters used to ask him: “where do you see yourself in five, ten years?” Without fail, the former Vice President would reply, “home for dinner.” This answer was an honest assessment of his priorities. Throughout his career, Pence has been adamant about putting his family first. As he often told his staff, he’d rather lose an election than lose his family. Go Home for Dinner is an in-depth, practical guide to balancing the demands of life with the long-term satisfaction that only a commitment to your family can bring.

While many aspects of leadership development are similar for women and men, women face different cultural expectations and have different experiences than their male counterparts. Anna Morgan's own experiences in pastoral ministry leadership launched her search for a holistic way to grow the skills, influence, and authority of women who are gifted and called as leaders. This book provides a positive, comprehensive research-based model for developing women in church and ministry leadership. Morgan identifies seven aspects of leadership development that form a woman over her lifetime.

How should we as parents view our children in the church as we are tasked with bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? How should we as congregants view the children in our churches, whom we have a solemn responsibility to evangelize and instruct? In this booklet Joel R. Beeke discusses theological and practical foundations for raising and nurturing children in light of the covenant of grace.