Life Growth

The constraints of the spiritual life, practiced in community, are what set us free. Practicing spiritual disciplines can seem difficult, especially when we undertake them as isolated individuals. But we were never meant to practice them alone. Jared Patrick Boyd reveals how the constraints practiced in Christian community shape us into the way of Christ. He re-anchors the practices of constraint within the ascetic tradition of monasticism, religious orders, and the early church fathers.

Do I Stay Christian? addresses in public the powerful question that surprising numbers of people—including pastors, priests, and other religious leaders—are asking in private. Picking up where Faith After Doubt leaves off, Do I Stay Christian? is not McLaren's attempt to persuade Christians to dig in their heels or run for the exit. Instead, he combines his own experience with that of thousands of people who have confided in him over the years to help readers make a responsible, honest, ethical decision about their religious identity.

You have a calling. First, God calls us all to know and love him. Second, for each individual there is a specific call—a defining purpose or mission, with implications for all of life. In this classic book on vocation, Gordon Smith invites you to discover your calling by listening to God and becoming a coworker with him. Smith explores how to pursue excellence in all kinds of work and how to continue growing throughout a lifetime.

We live in a 24/7 culture of endless productivity, workaholism, distraction, burnout, and anxiety-a way of life to which we've sadly grown accustomed. This tired system of "life" ultimately destroys our souls, our bodies, our relationships, our society, and the rest of God's creation. The whole world grows exhausted because humanity has forgotten to enter into God's rest. Combining creative storytelling, pastoral sensitivity, practical insight, and relevant academic research, Subversive Sabbath offers a unique invitation to personal Sabbath-keeping.

Human beings are wired for connection. We long for deep relationships and real intimacy — both of which reflect our fundamental desire to be close to God. But all too often, whether because of our sin or our failures, we imagine that God prefers to keep his distance. In this book, Edward T. Welch shows us the purpose for which we were created: to be brought near to God as a kingdom of priests.

Every Christian ought to be a soul-winner. Regardless of your occupation, your primary business is to win souls. Failing to do so means not only failure in this life but also regret and remorse in the life to come. The world has always been willing to listen to a man with a real message from heaven. As Christians, we possess the greatest news ever told. Upon becoming a Christian, one should realize that, armed with the Gospel, he has more to offer the world than the whole world has to offer in return.

Learn the skills you need to succeed in life as a man. Have you ever felt unsure about what to do when you're facing a new social situation or meeting new people? In this updated and revised edition of How to be a Gentleman you will learn everything a man needs to know to navigate the ins and...

Find work you love. On your own terms. From the New York Times bestselling author of Life Is in the Transitions comes a bold new road map for finding meaning and purpose in what you do, based on insights drawn from hundreds of life stories of Americans of all backgrounds. America is at a...

In this straightforward guide, expert relationship therapists Edrica Richardson and Ilene Cohen get to the heart of what it means to really be in fulfilling relationships and why connecting with the ones you love can feel so hard. You'll learn how "doing the work" encourages healing and growth within yourself and within your relationships.

In Help, I'm Drowning, Sally identifies the challenges that took her by surprise and then leads you to the wisdom she gathered through her experiences. Finding grace to walk through the darkness and hope to make it through will give you the comfort and encouragement you need in knowing you are not alone. Though there are no easy, formulaic answers that apply to every situation, Sally leads us to the one who is with us and will see us through.

Fact is, when it comes to dealing with temptations, we all crave help, meaning, and direction. However, it doesn’t just happen. You must be equipped with the full armor of God, and understand that you are fighting a battle for your very soul. And you must come prepared. Endure, written and inspired by the author Ben Greenfield’s own personal temptations, struggles, and failures, and informed by what he’s studied and learned along the way, will serve as a key resource and guide for that very preparation.

Every day is full of struggles. We struggle with time; with truth; with authority; with finding peace, purity, and contentment; with our words, thoughts, and actions - and that's just the beginning! Does God speak to us about these daily tests? Is there hope in the struggle? The answer, of course, is yes - but where God speaks about them may surprise you.

What do desire and passion have to do with our spiritual journey? According to A. H. Almaas and Karen Johnson, they are an essential part of it. Conventional wisdom cautions that desire and passion are opposed to the spiritual path--that engaging in desire will take you more into the world, into...

At age thirty-three, Maurice Ashley became the first African American to attain the rank of International Grand Master of Chess. Since that historic moment, he has brought his love of the game to a wide audience as an educator, innovator, and motivational speaker.

Is your prayer life characterized by such things as sincerity, urgency, and delight? Engagement in prayer is a vital part of our communion with God, making a profound impact on our growth in grace. In this book, you will find thoughtful meditations on prayer in the life of the believer, as well as ample encouragement to cultivate this spiritual discipline in your own life. If you want to be more devoted to prayer, or simply want to assess the health of your prayer life, listen to this book.

What should I do with my life? It's a question many of us have wondered with frequency. Author Po Bronson was asking himself that very question when he decided to write this book - an inspiring exploration of how people transform their lives and a template for how we can answer this question for...

Living the Fruit of the Spirit Every Day is a practical Christian living and discipleship book designed to help you grow spiritually by walking daily with the Holy Spirit. Perfect for personal devotions, Bible study groups, or small group discussions, this guide offers real help for real life. Inside this life-changing book on Christian spiritual growth, you’ll discover:

“The glory of God is man fully alive.”- St Irenaeus That’s exactly how you were wired to live. Yet sadness, depression, and feelings of apathy and helplessness often characterize your life. You survive but not thrive. This book is a treasure map that leads from monotony to adventure, from...

Living with insensitive, tactless, careless, inattentive, difficult, self-absorbed, neglectful, damaging, condemning, harsh, hard, treacherous, deceiving, prejudiced, and paralyzing people…can make you crazy! Chances are, there's at least one person like that in your life right now-a person...

There are times when looking back helps to fuel our future. Looking back at the life of evangelist Maria Woodworth-Etter, you will be emboldened by the truth that nothing is impossible to the believer who surrenders to God. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Maria Woodworth-Etter, the grandmother of the Pentecostal movement, astounded many Americans as she traveled across the country holding revivals. At these meetings, the worst sinners in the town were saved, the most diseased were healed, and her biggest critics were proven wrong.