A Faith of Your Own PDF Download

Author: Ronald J. Allen
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN: 1611640296
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
A faith should be a living thing. What we believe necessarily evolves in response to insights into the Bible, to questions or doubts we face, to changes in life circumstances, or to things that happen in the larger world. Nevertheless, Christians often find it helpful to identify what they can most fully believe at a given moment. Such clarity empowers the present and leads us toward the future. Such moments can also be mile markers by which we measure our faith journey. In each chapter the first section lists the most common ways a certain topic is understood in the Bible. The second section identifies important ways the church has interpreted that topic since the Bible's inception. The third section introduces contemporary perspectives. With that foundational knowledge, readers can make a judgment as to which viewpoints seem more or less persuasive to them personally. Finally, each chapter ends with questions for reflection for individuals or small groups.

Author: Jonathan Merritt
Publisher: FaithWords
ISBN: 1455519278
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 148

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Book Description
Every day, major headlines tell the story of how Christianity is attempting to influence American culture and politics. But statistics show that young Americans are disenchanted with a faith that has become culturally antagonistic and too closely aligned with partisan politics. In this personal yet practical work, Jonathan Merritt uncovers the changing face of American Christianity by uniquely examining the coming of age of a new generation of Christians. Jonathan Merritt illuminates the spiritual ethos of this new generation of believers who engage the world with Christ-centered faith but an un-polarized political perspective. Through personal stories and biblically rooted commentary this scion of a leading evangelical family takes a close, thoughtful look at the changing religious and political environment, addressing such divisive issues as abortion, gay marriage, environmental use and care, race, war, poverty, and the imbalance of world wealth. Through Scripture, the examples of Jesus, and personal defining faith experiences, he distills the essential truths at the core of a Christian faith that is now just coming of age.

Author: Sharon Kim
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
ISBN: 0813549477
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 213

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Book Description
Second-generation Korean Americans, demonstrating an unparalleled entrepreneurial fervor, are establishing new churches with a goal of shaping the future of American Christianity. A Faith of Our Own investigates the development and growth of these houses of worship, a recent and rapidly increasing phenomenon in major cities throughout the United States. Immigration historians have depicted the second-generation as a transitional generation--on the steady march toward the inevitable decline of ethnic identity and allegiance. Sharon Kim suggests an alternative path. By harnessing religion and innovatively creating hybrid religious institutions, second-generation Korean Americans are assertively defining and shaping their own ethnic and religious futures. Rather than assimilating into mainstream American evangelical churches or inheriting the churches of their immigrant parents, second-generation pastors are creating their own hybrid third space--new autonomous churches that are shaped by multiple frames of reference. Including data gathered over ten years at twenty-two churches, A Faith of Our Own is the most comprehensive study of this topic that addresses generational, identity, political, racial, and empowerment issues.

Author: Dr. J. Ellsworth Kalas
Publisher: Abingdon Press
ISBN: 1426755848
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
In A Faith of Her Own: Women of the Old Testament, popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas focuses on women who were crucial—some in obvious and some in less obvious ways—to the story of the Old Testament. Kalas takes a look at several different women of the Old Testament. He examines the Scriptures to see what we can learn about them and from them, including their defining characteristics, how they fit into as well as shaped the Old Testament story, and how their stories of strength, courage, perseverance, and faith have shaped our lives as believers today. Chapters include: - The Ultimate First Lady (Eve) - A Woman Who Married Trouble (Cain's Wife) - The Compleat Woman (Sarah) - A Mother Who Played Favorites (Rebecca - They May Have Been Twins -- But Not Identical (Leah & Rachel) - The Original Big Sister (Miriam) - God Saw Beyond Her Profession (Rahab) - Israel's First Female Prime Minister (Deborah) - The Perfect In-Laws (Ruth & Naomi) - The Ladies Chorus (The Women of Bethlehem: Ruth 4: 13-17) - Counslor to the Clergy (Huldah) - Married to a Husband's Career (Wives of Old Testament Prophets) A discussion guide is included.

Author: Ryan Shook
Publisher: WaterBrook
ISBN: 1601427220
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
Stop copying someone else's religion. Start living out a faith that's all your own. A “firsthand” faith is never what somebody tells you it should be, even if that person is a parent, friend, or pastor. “Firsthand” means you went after it for yourself and now it’s all yours. That kind of faith is changes everything, but most people only find it by facing tough questions. Like: • If God is real, why does he feel far away? • Can I ever get past the dos and don’ts of church? • Why should I even try to follow God when I fail so often? • How do I experience a relationship with Christ that’s more than surface level? • Is it possible to have authentic faith when I have so many doubts? • How can I connect with others who take firsthand faith seriously? In these pages, Ryan and Josh Shook talk candidly about growing up in church only to realize that “how things are supposed to be” had stopped working for them. They set out to find what makes a young person’s faith stick—or not. Each chapter is designed to spark a discussion, and comes complete with personal inventories, Bible teaching, small-group discussion questions, and links to original video. Now includes bonus “Looking Back from Here” Q&A with the authors

Author: Joseph Dispenza
Publisher: Wiley + ORM
ISBN: 1118040988
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 217

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Book Description
In this spiritual self-help memoir, a former Roman Catholic monk recounts his journey away from religion toward his own personal spirituality. After spending eight years in a monastery, Joseph Dispenza walked away from his life as a monk—and the religion of his youth—in search of a different kind of spiritual path. Outside the confines of organized religion, Dispenza was able to create a spiritual life that gives direction and meaning to all he does and all he is. God on Your Own is a book for anyone who has left (or is thinking of leaving) organized religion but wants to continue on a spiritual path. Dispenza, a noted author and retreat leader, provides a spiritual road map for those who want to make the transition from conventional religion toward a richer and more satisfying direct relationship with the Source, without rules, dogmas, or doctrines. Throughout the book, Dispenza offers wise, compassionate guidance, speaking as one seeker to another. He has made this journey himself, gleaning spiritual truth from across traditions and practices.

Author: Teresa Vining
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780830823260
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
Teresa Turner Vining has compiled many of the questions believers struggle with along with the answers she found. The result is an interactive guidebook designed to help you decide for sure what you truly believe.

Author: Hayley DiMarco
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
ISBN: 1433682036
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description
The movie Grace Unplugged tells the story of Grace Trey, an ideal Christian teenager who is also a phenomenal singer. But when she is pushed into the “real world” at the tender age of eighteen after getting the music break of a lifetime, her faith is put to the test. Own It! mirrors the film by asking what it means to really “own” your personal faith rather than just automatically following in the footsteps of parents, friends, or other influencers. Best-selling authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco help readers understand what to do when faith meets real world challenges. Without solid beliefs, poor choices are likely to follow. You must take the time to really know who you are, who you are becoming, and who God made you to be. It's your personal faith . . . own it!

Author: Nathan Wheeler
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781942145660
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
At this point it goes without saying that the number of young people in the church is shrinking. Countless studies and books have examined this trend and proffered helpful theories and next steps. But have all of the contributing factors been identified?Maybe not. In A Faith of Their Own, longtime youth worker Nathan Wheeler looks at an as-yet-unexplored possibility: theology. Wheeler examines what theology we commonly teach in our youth ministries, often by default more than intention, and how that theology can be inadvertently detrimental to the church participation of younger generations.With all this in mind, what can we do? Wheeler proposes that the best response is to broaden our theological lenses. In these pages he provides a field guide that covers various theologies (process, feminist, liberation, and radical) to add depth and breadth to our understanding of God, as well as examples of how we can integrate aspects of those broader theologies in our ministries.This helpful and challenging book will guide youth workers to think deeply and explore new strategies, all in the pursuit of helping the young people in our ministries grow a compelling, challenging, and robust faith they'll choose to engage with throughout their entire lives.

Author: Sally Clarkson
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ISBN: 1414391285
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 273

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Book Description
In a world that's moving so fast, it's easy to lose your sense of purpose. Clarkson journeys with you to explore what it means to live meaningfully, follow God truly, and bring much-needed order to your chaos. Discover what it means to own your life, and dare to trust God's hands as He richly shapes your character, family, work, and soul.