The Mission of God From Eternity to Here - Frank Viola presents the unfolding drama and epic saga of God's grand mission in the world. It provides an extraordinary glimpse into the Lord's ageless purpose through a fresh unveiling of the grand narrative of Scripture. From Eternity is being called "a masterpiece in narrative theology." It freshly unpacks the big, sweeping epic of God's eternal mission and the mission of the church. A groundbreaking work in biblical narrative and missional theology. Endorsed by Ed Stetzer, Greg Boyd, Alan Hirsch, Shane Claiborne, Brian McLaren, Leonard Sweet, Dan Kimball, Andrew Jones, Michael Spencer (iMonk), Mike Morrell, Myles Monroe, James Goll, Dan Francisco, DeVern Fromke, Ralph Neighbour, and others. Ultimate Intention - Devern Fromke. This classic has finally been reprinted and not a moment too soon! Every believer will be deeply impressed by a thorough reading of DeVern Fromke's classic setting forth the importance of God-centeredness for the normal Christian life. Beginning with an unfolding of God's eternal purpose which He purposed for Himself in eternity past, the various chapters set forth the importance of a God-centered view of reality as the only environment nurturing proper spiritual growth. Created for Community - Stanley Grenz. This book represents the very best of Grenz' theology of the church. Grenz presents the gospel and the Christian life in terms of establishing a community on the earth. Masterfully blending biblical, historical, and contemporary concerns, Grenz's respected work provides a coherent vision of the faith that is both intellectually satisfying and expressible in Christian living. This is an incredible work showing forth God's central purpose in creation and redemption. The Coat of Many Colors - Milt Rodriguez. The eternal purpose of God beautifully described by using the Old Testament story of Joseph's coat of many colors. You will be presented with a simple explanation of God's plan and purpose for creation and the Church. What motivated God to create? You will see yourself in a completely new light as a believer, one who has been chosen before time. The Stewardship of the Mystery - T. Austin-Sparks. Our difficulty always will be to comprehend, to grasp, to bring that excellent greatness of God's eternal grace, that transcendent fulness of Christ, within the compass of our everyday lives and practical experiences. Yet He is One whom we desperately need to know. Although it is so far beyond our natural comprehension, it is the good pleasure of God to reveal His Son in our lives by His Spirit. An evergrowing, inexhaustible conception of Christ is yours for the seeking and asking! Nexus: The World House Church Movement Reader - Various Authors. Welcome to the Nexus, your point of connection to the world house church movement. Grassroots Christianity is exploding all over the world. Northern India sees 4,000 churches planted in just a decade. China witnesses 160,000 new believers baptized in a single year. Cuba's petrol crisis catalyzes the birth of almost 10,000 churches. What is happening in all these places? Saturation church planting through simple, inexpensive, participatory, reproducible, and missional communities of 'house churches'. Over thirty-five leaders, practitioners, and academics from all around the world have contributed their insight and experience in over sixty provocative articles. An Army of Ordinary People - Felicity Dale. In this powerful collection of stories, Felicity Dale shines the light on the same kind of Holy Spirit activity sweeping the U.S. today...God is mobilizing an army of ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary work in simple ways around the globe. May the stories in these pages inspire you to join their ranks!   Church and Community   The Community Life of God by Milt Rodriguez. Seeing that the headwaters for all church life and form is the community life of the Father, Son, and Spirit. This is both theological and practical. The corporate life that God lives by (eternal life) is the same life that He gives to us. This is a life of loving one another and Jesus said that it comes from heaven (see John 17). This community life is both the engine and the fuel for our lives together as believers. After reading this book you will have a much deeper understanding of the Church from the perspective of the Triune God Himself! Pagan Christianity (Revised and Expanded) by Frank Viola and George Barna. Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we "dress up" for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, choirs, and seminaries? This volume reveals the startling truth: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is not rooted in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence in the first-ever book to document the full story of modern Christian church practices. Revolution - George Barna. World-renowned pollster George Barna has the numbers, and they indicate a revolution is already taking place within the Church--one that will impact every believer in America. Committed, born-again Christians are exiting the established church in massive numbers. Why are they leaving? Where are they going? And what does this mean for the future of the Church? Using years' worth of research data, and adhering to an unwavering biblical perspective, Barna predicts how this revolution will impact the organized church, how Christ's body of believers should react, and how individuals who are considering leaving (or those who have already left) can respond. Reimagining Church - Frank Viola. Each year, one million Christians leave the traditional church. Why? Join Frank in this constructive follow-up to Pagan Christianity as he paints a compelling picture of organic church life, where the body of Christ is an organic, living, breathing organism. A church that is free of convention, formed by spiritual intimacy, and unbound by four walls. Finding Organic Church - Frank Viola. A detailed manual on how to start and sustain an organic church. Everything from what to do with the children, to the developmental stages of church growth, to the diseases of an organic church and their cures are all covered in this comprehensive volume. Church planting principles for organic styled churches are packed together with the author's practical experience of living in and starting such churches. Each chapter is full of practical advice based on New Testament principles and experience. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church - Frank Viola. A unique Bible handbook that weaves Acts and the Epistles together chronologically . . . creating one fluid story. This epic volume gives readers a first-hand account of the New Testament drama that is riveting and enlightening. It includes dates, maps, and background information about the people, the cities, and the events of the first-century church using a "you-are-there" approach. God's Spiritual House - T. Austin-Sparks. God's house is not a denomination, it is not a network, it is not a building and it is not an organization. It is Christ Himself in undivided oneness found in all those in whom He really dwells.With shocking clarity Sparks announces that we are not the Church. It is the measure of Christ in us that constitutes the Church as God's spiritual house. Houses That Change the World - Wolfgang Simson. In this book, Wolfgang Simson brings to light what God is saying to Christians everywhere. Researched across the globe, he presents the case for the reformation of the church's existence. In a world where the church is being ignored, it is time to bring the church to the people, and not the people to the church. Whether it is what we know as church from the last five years or the last five hundred years, no one has truly been able to break free from the structures of the past. Many may see this book as radical, many may see it as a reforming of old ideals, but all who read it will be challenged and their priorities refocused in a life-changing way. Community of the King - Howard Snyder. For over twenty-five years, Howard Snyder's Community of the King has set the standard for a penetrating look at the relationship between the kingdom of God and the earthly church. Life Together - Dietrich Bonhoeffer . After his martyrdom at the hands of the Gestapo in 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer continued his witness in the hearts of Christians around the world. His Letters and Papers from Prison became a prized testimony to Christian faith and courage, read by thousands. Now in Life Together we have Pastor Bonhoeffer's experience of Christian community. This story of a unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Nazi years reads like one of Paul's letters. It gives practical advice on how life together in Christ can be sustained in families and groups. Paul's Idea of Community - Robert Banks. This book is once again available to laypeople, pastors and scholars alike. In this extensively revised edition Banks has rewritten chapters for clarity, taken into account recent scholarship on Paul's writings, updated and expanded the bibliography, and added an index. This new edition retains, however, all the freshness and vitality of the original. The Church Comes Home - Robert Banks. is a handbook for those interested in home churches. It is both visionary and practical. It describes how home churches can be formed, how they should grow, and how networks of home churches can develop. It examines issues-for example, how to make decisions; how to determine doctrine; how to include children, singles, elders; and how to reach out to the community at large-and offers practical suggestions for their resolution. Going to the Root - Christian Smith Includes chapters on Do church Without Clergy, Decentralize Leadership and Decision Making. Open Up Worship Services, and Overcome the Edifice Complex The Normal Christian Church Life - Watchman Nee. The Normal Christian Church Life is a record of messages given during conferences held in Shanghai and Hankow, Watchman Nee spoke to his fellow workers on the principles in the New Testament concerning the practical arrangement of the churches, the ministry, and the work. In his speaking, he honestly examined his own work before the Lord in the light of these principles, provided adjustment and encouragement to his co-workers, and confirmed through personal testimony that the practice of the normal Christian church life revealed in the New Testament can be recovered. The Priesthood of All Believers - Milt Rodriguez. In this revolutionary book, Milt Rodriguez has us take a new look at both the wine and the wineskin. The dynamic life of God's own Son cannot be contained within the rigid walls of the religious system. Milt pulls back the scales from our eyes to enable us to see God's eternal purpose and goal. Then he uses the picture of the priesthood to show us the difference between the levitical priesthood and the eternal priesthood of Melchizedek. Straight Talk to Pastors (eBook) - Frank Viola. The Scene: Thirty pastors ruling over ten churches in Santiago, Chile invite one man from the United States to speak to them about church life and church leadership. The Result: A high-drama, edge-of-your-chair message and a hair-raising question-answer session on church leadership, eldership, and authoritarian abuse that lasted the better part of an entire day! What some have called "the most remarkable church council ever to occur on South American soil," this book contains the entire transcript of that meeting. A Church Building Every 1/2 Mile: what Makes American Christianity Tick? by Jon Zens. When former governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, brashly dismissed organized religion as a sham, it scandalized the religious establishment. Jon Zens present four crisp essays in this volume that unravel the reoccurring components of American Christianity. They show that condemnations like Ventura's are reasonably justified. Jon contrasts the reality of modern the modern religious community with the vision set out in the New Testament. Much of what calls itself church is unaligned with the teachings of Christ. Jon, a 30-year veteran of simpler approaches to church, gives an honest, refreshing challenge to revisit the concepts and practices commonly thought of as "church." Community 101 - Gilbert Bilezikian. Authentic community is essential if the church is to remain true to its God-assigned mission. As the title indicates, the two interrelated concepts of community and oneness are presented in this book. Gilbert Bilezikian lays a biblical foundation for this call to community by showing the centrality of community in the sweep of salvation history - its loss in the Fall, its reclamation through Christ, and its ultimate realization in the New Jerusalem.   Spiritual Formation   God's Favorite Place on Earth - Frank Viola. The amazing story of Jesus in Bethany, and what it means for us today. The book addresses 18 specific struggles most Christians face. it's Told through the perspective of Lazaraus. Short, powerful, and easy to read. Endorsed by 47 top Christian authors. Revise Us Again - Frank Viola. A groundbreaking book on spiritual formation that explores ten areas of the Christian life that are rarely navigated. Deep, incisive, encouraging, insightful and illuminating. Jesus Manifesto - Leonard Sweet & Frank ViolaChristians have made the gospel about so many things-things other than Christ. Religious concepts, ideas, doctrines, strategies, methods, techniques, programs, and formulas have all eclipsed the beauty, the glory, and the reality of the Lord Jesus Himself. On the whole, the Christian family today is starved for a real experience of the living Christ. We know a lot about our Lord, but we don't know Him very well. We know a lot about trying to be like Jesus, but very little about living by His indwelling life. "Jesus Manifesto" presents a fresh unveiling of Jesus as not only Savior and Lord, but as so much more. It is a prophetic call to restore the supremacy and sovereignty of Christ in a world-and a church-that has lost sight of Him. Read this book and see your Lord like you've never seen Him before. The Butterfly in You - Milt Rodriguez There exists an altogether other realm. A realm that is completely different from this one. And it is only there that you can discover your true identity. Even though this is a place, it is even more so a Person. A very unique Person. I am speaking of the Person of Jesus Christ! It is only there that you will find out who you are. Milt Rodriguez takes you on a scriptural journey to help you discover what God says about yourself. This will be an adventure that you will never forget! Pre-order copies now at a discount. The Temple Within - Milt Rodriguez Today's Christianity has some serious weaknesses, but none greater than our lack of depth in knowing Christ Himself. We know many things; doctrines, teachings, and theological systems abound! We know the scriptures through and through but do we really know the One who is the living Word of God? The Centrality of Jesus Christ - T. Austin-Sparks Sparks' writings speak little of the Christ of Galilee - rather he has given us the resurrected and enthroned Lord. He has gone even farther than this, to show us the insuperable Christ who dwells within us. This presentation of his Lord would be enough to make Sparks' ministry unique, but Sparks went on to join head to body (Christ and the church). As surely as his spoken and written ministry exalted the Lord, so also Sparks called forth the almost forgotten centrality of the church. For T. Austin-Sparks, the two were inseparable. Nor did he speak of the church that most men have known and experienced. Experiencing God Through Prayer - Jeanne Guyon. At one time this book was publicly burned in France and yet it has also been received by seeking Christians as one of the most helpful and powerful Christian books ever written. Jeanne Guyon's has played a major part in the lives of more famous Christians than perhaps any other Christian book. Here is the very first edition written in modern English. The Spiritual Guide - Miguel Molinos. Written in 1675, this book offers advice and information relevant to the art of interior prayer. In the seventeenth century it provoked reactions, both of approval and controversy. This translation includes an introduction, which provides a historical background to the text, whose ideas brought the author inner peace, but also to his own death. Satisfy Your Soul: Restoring the Heart of Christian Spirituality - Bruce Demarest. Discover proven tools for developing intimacy with God as you follow a carefully chosen path from familiar evangelical practices to those outside our experiences and traditions. ForeWord Magazine Religion Book of the Year. Unto Full Stature - DeVern Fromke. This classic has finally been reprinted. Within it's pages you'll discover a practical description of the outworking of ultimate truth. Anyone who has ever been gripped by the necessity and glory of living unto God for the realization of His ultimate intention cannot help but yearn for the more practical ways of fulfillment. This book attempts to lead each one step by step through eight levels or phases of our natural and spiritual maturity.The author exposes hidden reasons why the child of God flounders in vision, lacks spiritual perspective, misunderstands his calling and purpose, disregards the important place of the will, and abuses his body as he zealously lives at exhaustion point. Seeing God's Purpose - DeVern Fromke. A selection of stories, for reading and discussion within the family circle. These stories are designed to highlight spiritual principles and aid in building God-centered character in your family. Seeing God's Wisdom - DeVern Fromke. A selection of stories, similiar to Seeing God's Purpose, for reading and discussion within the family circle. These stories are designed to highlight spiritual principles and aid in building God-centered character in your family.