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Category Church Life

I Am a Church Member

Posted in  Church Life

I Am a Church Member
By Thom S. Rainer
B & H
Retail Price $12.99
Amazon Price: $9.98

Book Description: 

Best-selling author and ministry leader Thom S. Rainer drew an exceptional response when he posted a 500-word declaration about church membership to his daily blog. “I Am a Church Member” started a conversation about the attitudes and responsibilities of church members — rather than the functional and theological issues — that previous new member primers all but ignored.
Thoughtfully expanded to book form, I Am a Church Member begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members, addressing without apology what is expected of those who join a body of believers. When a person’s attitude is consistently biblical and healthy, matters of giving, serving, and so forth will fall into place more naturally.
Six intentional chapters with study questions guide this rising discussion:
1. I Will Be a Unifying Church Member
2. I Will Not Let the Church Be About My Preferences and
Desires
3. I Will Pray for My Church Leaders
4. I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members
5. I Will Be a Functioning Member
6. I Will Treasure Church Membership as a Gift

Review

As a Pastor, I appreciate this book.  It addresses the responsibilities of church membership, which are really taken likely by most church members.  In a church today, it is still sadly true that 20% of the members do 80% of the work.  This book aims to remedy that.  I like that the author compares church membership to a country club membership. He certainly gets his point across.  I think this is a must read in any membership class before allowing a person to become a member of your church.

~Reviewed by Rev. John C.

    The Biblical Counseling Reference guide

    Posted in  Church Life

    The Biblical Counseling Reference guide
    By June Hunt
    Harvest House
    Retail Price $13.99
    Amazon Price: $10.45

    Book Description: 

    The Bible provides God’s solutions for every problem or issue we face in life. But how can you find the most relevant biblical counsel when you need help from God’s Word?That’s where The Biblical Counseling Concordance comes in. This comprehensive resource, developed by longtime Christian counselor June Hunt, will enable you to find the right Bible verses in response to hundreds of practical, everyday issues.Here in one volume, covering 600-plus topics, is quick access to God’s perfect wisdom for all of life. Every teacher and student, counselor and coach, fellow believer and caring helper will find within these pages a treasure trove of biblical counsel for every issue people face, including…anger conflict resolution
    depression forgiveness
    grief homosexuality
    loneliness marital struggles
    overeating stress
    temptation victimization

    Review

     

    This book is a must if you’re a Christian and have a heart to help people, especially if you are involved in some type of counseling ministry, helping people during their struggles.  This will take your ability to help people to another level. Along with a sound base of the Bible and some wisdom and experiences of life, this has been a “excellent” addition to my library.

    ~Reviewed by Daivd H.

     

      Love. Period.

      Posted in  Church Life

      Love. Period.: When All Else FailsLove. Period.
      By Rudy Rasmus
      Worthy Publilshing
      Retail Price $24.95
      Amazon Price: $18.27

      Book Description:

      When we say, “I choose to love. Period.”
      we are signaling to the world that a revolution
      has taken place in our hearts.
      —PASTOR RUDY RASMUS, LOVE. PERIOD.

      What would happen if we truly loved those who are different from us in race, background, abilities, gender, economic status, identity, or physical condition? How would our communities change if we stopped being afraid of those who don’t fit our definition of “loveable”? How would our hearts find greater joy if we acknowledged the risk of loving without conditions—and did it anyway?

      Love. Period. is hustler-turned-pastor Rudy Rasmus’s call for us to live the most daring way we can. To refuse to follow the hate and apathy of our world. To speak the words that Jesus intended: “I choose to love. Period.” Love—it’s precisely what God calls us to do.

      Review

      I wish that I could say that this book isn’t necessary.  That, as Christians, we follow God’s command to love one another and to love our neighbor as ourselves. But sadly, this book is relevant and necessary in today’s world and within church walls. Author Rudy Rasmus really makes you think and after reading this book you will find yourself reexamining the concept of love. This book provides useful and practical insight on why love is so critical…not only to our very existence, but to our development as a whole and complete person.  I highly recommend this book.

      ~Reviewed by Sharon S.

        Revival

        Posted in  Church Life

        Revival
        by Adam Hamiltion
        Abingdon
        Retail Price $14.99
        Amazon Price: $11.43

        Book Description:

        Wesley’s message and his faith continue to speak to 21st-century Christians—calling for a revival of our hearts and souls so that our world might be changed. Join Adam Hamilton for a six-week journey as he travels to England, following the life of John Wesley and exploring his defining characteristics of a Wesleyan Christian. Wesley’s story is our story. It defines our faith and it challenges us to rediscover our spiritual passion.

        Review

        This is an excellent introduction to the life of John Wesley as the author takes you on a grand tour of his life and times as well as giving you a glimpse of his theology and work that rocked the world.  While it is not an in depth biography it definitely does a thorough job giving you an overview of the man and what he stood for and giving you plenty of life applications for our own times.  I especially enjoyed the devotional thoughts shared from Wesley’s own pen.  I found this to be an interesting and thought provoking book.  While I am a Wesleyan, I feel that this book would be a good read, not only for Methodists, but Christians of all denominations.

        ~Reviewed by Frank B.

          Living The Quaker way

          Posted in  Church Life

          Living The Quaker way
          By Phillip Gulley
          Convergent Books
          Retail Price $14.99
          Amazon Price: $11.24

          Book Description: 

          Philip Gulley invites us into a bracing encounter with the rich truths of Quakerism—a centuries-old spiritual tradition that provides not only a foundation of faith but also vision for making the world more just, loving, and peaceable by our presence.

          In Living the Quaker Way, Gulley shows how Quaker values provide real solutions to many of our most pressing contemporary challenges. We not only come to a deeper appreciation of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality, we see how embracing these virtues will radically transform us and our world.

          Living the Quaker Way includes a 30-day spiritual practice that applies the Quaker tradition of Queries.

          Review

          I love to read Philip Gulley.  I found his fiction to be very readable and interesting so I thought I would give this book a try.  I am glad I did.  His writing style translated to this non-fiction book and I found the it to be easy to read. I learned so much about the Quaker way of life as well as general wisdom that I could apply to my own life.  I highly recommend it!

          ~Reviewed by Allie B.