Past Issues

Selected past issues of Christian Book Summaries are available here for free download. We try to keep our summaries under 200KB in size, making download time under a minute with a 28.8 baud dialup modem connection. Issues are published in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you can obtain it free of charge from Adobe Systems. (download Adobe Acrobat).

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Vol 4, Issue 12
Real Christianity
by William Wilberforce, Victor Books

When William Wilberforce became a Christian in 1785, his calling became laser focused on rousing believers to understand the true nature of faith, and bringing about the end of slavery in the British colonies. A dozen years after his conversion he articulated his views in this book.
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Vol 4, Issue 11
Christian Perspectives on Gender, Sexuality, and Community
by Maxine Hancock, Editor, Regent College Publishing

What distinctive attitudes towards gender and sexuality should define the Christian community? How can the believers model relationships which truly reflect the lordship of Christ?
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Vol 4, Issue 10
The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters
by Charles Colson and Harold Fickett, Zondervan

Living as a fully devoted follower of Christ requires a keen understanding of what faith is. The great, historical central truths of Christianity are just as true and transformative today as they have ever been.
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Vol 4, Issue 9
Peace With God: The Secret of Happiness
by Billy Graham, W Publishing

In an age characterized by stress, information overload, war, and economic uncertainty, this 1953 release by Billy Graham offers the same straightforward answers for us as it did for those facing the Cold War during the Eisenhower era. To people seeking guidance, comfort, and peace, Graham points clearly toward the One who is the only dependable source of the peace that passes understanding.
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Vol 4, Issue 8
Family Driven Faith: Doing What it Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk wi
by Voddie Baucham, Crossway Books

Pastor Voddie Baucham, who overcame the multigenerational pattern of broken and dysfunctional homes, demonstrates that Christians can fight back for the sake of their children by using timeless biblical principles.
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Vol 4, Issue 7
Quiet Strength
by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker, Tyndale House Publishers

Tony Dungy, Coach of the SuperBowl XLI Champions, tells the story of a life lived for God and family and challenges us all to redefine our ideas of what it means to succeed.
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Vol 4, Issue 6
Moby Dick
by Herman Melville, Public Domain

Moby Dick is a quest for truth about the nature of God, of good and evil, and the purpose of the universe. Is the universe good, orderly, and filled with the purposes of a loving God? Or is it chaotic, godless and ultimately meaningless?
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Vol 4, Issue 5
The Case for the Real Jesus
by Lee Strobel, Zondervan

The traditional view of Jesus is under attack. This assault has confused spiritual seekers and produced uncertainty among many believers. Can these sweeping new claims stand up to careful analysis?
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Vol 4, Issue 4
In the Meantime: The Practice of Proactive Waiting
by Rob Brendle, Waterbrook Press

There is often a period of time between hearing the call of God for our lives and actually stepping into our calling. During this waiting, we should embrace whatever tasks He has for us, recognizing that God can use even work that seems menial to prepare us to serve Him.
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Vol 4, Issue 3
The Imitation of Christ
by Thomas a Kempis, Public Domain

John Wesley and John Newton listed it among the works that influenced them at their conversion. Protestants and Roman Catholics alike join in giving it praise. The Imitation of Christ by German Augustinian Monk Thomas à Kempis in the early fifteenth century remains a beloved favorite all over the world for more than 500 years.
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Vol 4, Issue 2
The Secret Revealed
by James L. Garlow and Rick Marschall, Faith Words, Hachette Book Group USA, Inc.

Hurting people are seeking answers from the blockbuster book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. The Secret Revealed carefully examines Byrne’s claims, from haphazard historical referencing to alleged scientific support.
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Vol 4, Issue 1
The Prayer: Deepening Your Friendship with God
by James M. Houston, Victor Books

Prayer is not as a dreary exercise or a skill to be mastered, but a chance to deepen our friendship with God. Prayer changes our lives, and the way we lives changes our prayers.
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Vol 3, Issue 48
Dark Night of the Soul
by Saint John of the Cross, Public Domain

Saint John of the Cross, a sixteen-century Carmelite monk, wrote about a purification of the soul that eventually leads the soul to God’s divine love. His two-book treatise begins with an eight-stanza poem that is then explained line by line.
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Vol 3, Issue 47
Glocalization: How Followers of Jesus Engage in a Flat World
by Bob Roberts, Jr., Zondervan

Glocal is as important a term to the 21st century as postmodern and seeker were to the 20th century says Bob Roberts, pastor of NorthWood in Fort Worth, a church that has helped plant 89 churches in the last 15 years. For so many pastors, he says, church is about what happens on Sunday. But church is not supposed to be a Sunday event; it is supposed to be salt and light in the family, in the community, and around the world.
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Vol 3, Issue 46
The Great Exchange: My Sin for His Righteousness
by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington, Crossway Books

Any gospel that does not focus on the death of Christ and its true significance, and any teaching on Christianity that does not emphasize a life of cross bearing cannot be the biblical gospel nor produce a Christ-honoring life.
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Vol 3, Issue 45
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
by John Bunyan, Public Domain

In 1657 Bunyan took on his first assignment as a field preacher for the Puritan Free Church, delivering messages to nonconformist audiences throughout England. These field preachers were suspect and subject to arrest. Refusing to refrain from preaching, Bunyan was arrested in 1660 and imprisoned for more than eleven years. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, written during this imprisonment, is an autobiography that begins with guilt and despair and ends with a heart full of comfort, a thankful heart for grace abounding.
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Vol 3, Issue 44
Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision
by Bill Hybels, Zondervan

There is something about this hurting world that bothers you so much that you can hardly stand it. Hybels calls this your holy discontent and he believes God planted it deep inside of you for a reason. As you live from the energy of your holy discontent, Hybels says, you'll fulfill your role in setting what is wrong in this world right!
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Vol 3, Issue 43
A Wideness in God's Mercy
by Clark H. Pinnock, Zondervan

God’s mercy is extended to far more people than we could imagine, says Clark Pinnock in this detailed presentation of his position concerning non-Christian religions and the salvation of non-Christians. He stakes out a middle ground between the restrictive approach and the pluralistic approach of much of mainline Christianity.
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Vol 3, Issue 42
The Pilgrim's Progress
by John Bunyan, Public Domain

The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come, published by John Bunyan in 1678, is a Christian allegory regarded as one of the most significant works of English literature. Bunyan accurately captures the speech of ordinary people, depicts their behavior and appearance, and describes their inner emotional and spiritual life.
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Vol 3, Issue 41
Jesus Driven Ministry
by Ajith Fernando, Crossway Books

Ajith Fernando, the director of Youth For Christ in Sri Lanka since 1976, identifies the basics of ministry and examines them through the lenses of Scripture, traditions of the Church, and experience. Who we are, he says, is just as important as what we do in ministry.
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Vol 3, Issue 40
The Great Dance
by C. Baxter Kruger, Regent College Publishing

Before anything was created, God existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three share a unity so close, author C. Baxter Kruger says, they exist in a circle dance where when one cries, all taste the salt. According to Kruger, the central passion of the human heart is to be filled with this great dance, and the chief and maddening riddle of human life is to understand what the dance is and how to live in it.
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Vol 3, Issue 39
The Saints' Everlasting Rest
by Richard Baxter, Regent College Publishing

Hebrews 4:9 tells us that there remains a rest for the people of God. English Puritan theologian Richard Baxter (1615-1691) said that the saints' rest is the most happy state of a Christian, the perfect endless enjoyment of God by the perfected saints, according to the measure of their capacity, to which their souls arrive at death, and both soul and body most fully after the resurrection and final judgment.
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Vol 3, Issue 38
So, You Want To Be Like Christ?
by Charles R. Swindoll, W Publishing

How can we be more like Christ? Author Charles Swindoll says that kind of godliness will not just happen by hanging around a church or thinking lofty thoughts. It will take more, much more. According to Swindoll, religion is not enough. The secret lies in our returning to the basic disciplines of Christ.
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Vol 3, Issue 37
Twelve Ordinary Men
by John MacArthur, W Publishing Group

If Christ can accomplish His purposes through the lives of common men like his disciples, imagine what He can do through you!
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Vol 3, Issue 36
The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living With A Grande Passion
by Leonard Sweet, Waterbrook Press

Why are people willing to wait in long lines for Starbucks coffee? How can the church glean principles from the Starbucks philosophy to motivate people to clamor at the doors of the church?
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Vol 3, Issue 35
The Confessions of Saint Augustine
by Saint Augustine, Public Domain

Saint Augustine (354-430 A.D.) reflects on his early life, education, and successful career as a teacher of rhetoric. His struggles toward the faith offer insights to those who experience the good and evil of their own souls and long to find rest in God alone.
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Vol 3, Issue 34
How Christianity Changed the World
by Alvin J. Smith, Zondervan

Christianity deserves credit for many of the social, scientific, and cultural advances over the course of the past two millenia.
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Vol 3, Issue 33
Teresa of Avila: The Book of My Life
by Saint Teresa of Avila, Public Domain

This 16th century Spanish saint and mystic communicates the personal conflicts and crises that culminated in her determination to enter fully into the path of prayer. After tracing the four components of the contemplative life, St. Teresa describes the ecstatic experiences given to her by God.
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Vol 3, Issue 32
Discipleship on the Edge: An Expository Journey Through the Book of Revelation
by Darrell W. Johnson, Regent College Publishing

Things are not as they seem, says Darrell Johnson. He believes there is more to reality than meets the unaided eye; God is in control. Johnson calls us to all out discipleship to Jesus. Presenting the Revelation of Jesus Christ as a discipleship manual, Johnson drives home the challenging and practical message of Revelation.
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Vol 3, Issue 31
When Bad Christians Happen to Good People
by Dave Burchett, Waterbrook Press

Author Dave Burchett wrote this book for the person who has been hurt by a judgmental or unfriendly church, and also for the Christian who inflicted the wounds. He shares new ways of relating that will bring healing and revolutionize our impact on the world.
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Vol 3, Issue 30
Can Man Live Without God
by Ravi Zacharias, W Publishing Group

Atheism is not merely a passive unbelief in God, says Ravi Zacharias, but an assertive denial of the major claims of all varieties of theism. A firm belief that God exists matters urgently and greatly affects how we live.
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Vol 3, Issue 29
Facing Your Giants
by Max Lucado, W Publishing Group

David was an extraordinary young man when he faced Goliath and killed him with just one stone. Later in his life, David tangled with other kinds of giants. His struggles are full of lessons for us as we face our own giants.
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Vol 3, Issue 28
For Men Only
by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn, Multnomah Publishers

Take the guesswork out of trying to please the woman in your life. You can make her happy!
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Vol 3, Issue 27
Faith Beyond Feelings: Discerning the Heart of True Spirituality
by Jonathan Edwards, Victor Books

Great Awakening revivalist Jonathan Edwards witnessed both true and false signs of revival as well as true and false conversions. This led him to write Religious Affections in 1746. This retitled and edited version was released in 2005.
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Vol 3, Issue 26
For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men
by Shaunti Feldhahn, Multnomah Publishers

You can understand the man in your life and learn to love him in the way he needs to be loved.
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Vol 3, Issue 25
How to Read Your Bible
by David & Renee Sanford, W Publishing Group

The thought of reading the Bible from cover to cover can be both exciting and intimidating. Here's a step-by-step guide.
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Vol 3, Issue 24
Growing in Christ
by J. I. Packer, Crossway Books

Christianity is not instinctive to anyone, nor is it picked up casually without effort, says author J.I.Packer. Each of us needs a strong foundation in biblical theology.
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Vol 3, Issue 23
Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?
by Philip Yancey, Zondervan

Prayer, Yancey writes, is our partnership with God, our chance to join forces with God's power to confront suffering and evil head-on.
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Vol 3, Issue 22
Serve God, Save the Planet
by J. Matthew Sleeth, MD, Chelsea Green Publishing

Christians should realize that taking care of God's Earth is a stewardship issue, one to which He has called us.
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Vol 3, Issue 21
Just Walk Across the Room
by Bill Hybels, Zondervan

The highest value in personal evangelism is cooperating with the Holy Spirit, says Bill Hybels. Sometimes, he suggests, just walking across the room and starting a natural conversation can get the ball rolling.
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Vol 3, Issue 20
How To Be A Christian In A Brave New World
by Joni Eareckson Tada and Nigel M. de S. Cameron, Zondervan

The Bible does not specifically address the profound ethical questions facing our generation, but it offers clear principles for us to apply as we think through stem-cell research, cloning, and genetic engineering.
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Vol 3, Issue 19
The Rest of God
by Mark Buchanan, W Publishing Group

We all hate our work at times and even fantasize about abandoning it. But God wants to give us rest right in the middle of our work by teaching us how to embrace the Sabbath as both a day and an attitude.
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Vol 3, Issue 18
Velvet Elvis
by Rob Bell, Zondervan

Beware of those who claim to have figured out life or arrived at the most accurate set of theological beliefs. All truth is God’s truth. But His truth is dynamic and compels every believer to keep seeking and asking questions so that they can reach a fuller understanding of what truth is.
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Vol 3, Issue 17
True Sexual Morality: Recovering Biblical Standards for a Culture in Crisis
by Daniel R. Heimbach, Crossway Books

We are facing unprecedented challenges to biblical standards of sexual morality. Ancient pagan views of sex and spirituality have infiltrated every component of social life, including our churches. We need to reclaim the clear teaching of Scripture concerning God’s design for sex.
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Vol 3, Issue 16
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
by Joanna Weaver, Waterbrook Press

How in the world do I find the time to nurture my relationship with God? Maybe a better question is how in the world can I NOT make time to nurture my relationship with Him? When I make God my center, everything else can swirl around and stay balanced.
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Vol 3, Issue 15
Battle Cry for a Generation
by Ron Luce, NexGen (Cook Communications Ministries)

The Middle East is not the only place a battle is raging. Right here in America, where we have the largest number of teenagers since the baby boomer generation, combat is escalating. There is but one hope, and if we fail - the youth of our nation could be lost...forever.
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Vol 3, Issue 14
Lies That Go Unchallenged in Popular Culture
by Charles Colson, Tyndale House Publishers

Anchoring his thinking on sound biblical truth, Charles Colson refutes seven core deceptions of contemporary society. He offers underlying motives, events, and repercussions of the lies our culture is feeding us.
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Vol 3, Issue 13
Heaven
by Randy Alcorn, Tyndale House Publishers

Where will I go when I die? What will Heaven be like? The Bible paints a vivid picture of a place that will engage our imaginations, increase our yearning for Heaven, and prompt us to live godly lives between now and then.
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Vol 3, Issue 12
The Church of Irresistible Influence
by Robert Lewis with Rob Wilkins, Zondervan

The early church demonstrated a spiritual energy and depth that transformed the surrounding culture. Using a bridge metaphor, Lewis and Wilkins show how our churches can become strong links between heaven and earth in our communities.
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Vol 3, Issue 11
Permission Evangelism
by Michael L. Simpson, NexGen (Cook Communications Ministries)

Author Michael Simpson, once an atheist committed to disproving Christianity, is today passionate about reaching the lost for Christ. He believes in the effectiveness of permission evangelism, an approach that gives those who want to learn more about faith the opportunity to invite believers to share progressively more information about the Gospel.
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Vol 3, Issue 10
Shattered Dreams
by Larry Crabb, Waterbrook Press

Why is life so difficult? We know that God loves us and longs to bless us. Author and psychologist Larry Crabb mines principles from the biblical account of Naomi to explain ways God actually changes our lives for the better through the tragedies we face. At this exact moment, Crabb declares, God is giving us what He thinks is good, what He knows is good.
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Vol 3, Issue 9
Total Truth
by Nancy Pearcey, Crossway Books

Does God belong in the public arena, or is religion solely a private matter? Author Nancy Pearcey, who traveled to Switzerland in the 1970's to study Christian worldview under Francis Schaeffer, argues that Christianity is not just religious truth, but truth about all reality. It is total truth.
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Vol 3, Issue 8
A Generous Orthodoxy
by Brian D. McLaren, Zondervan

Author Brian McLaren calls for a radical, Christ-centered orthodoxy of faith and practice. A senior leader in the emerging church movement, he argues for a post-liberal, post-conservative, post-protestant convergence.
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Vol 3, Issue 7
The Truth About Worldviews
by James P. Eckman, Crossway Books

People often use terms with positive connotations such as diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism to reinforce their claim that there is no truth and that no one can claim truth, says James Eckman in The Truth About Worldviews. In a world where we are taught to consider each opinion valid, Eckman is convinced that followers of Christ must have a keen understanding what others from different faiths believe. In this book he analyzes the main world religions, cults, and philosophical systems as worldviews.
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Vol 3, Issue 6
The Case for A Creator
by Lee Strobel, Zondervan

Former Chicago Tribune journalist Strobel dissects the assumption that Christianity and science are incompatible. Interviewing major origins researchers and theistic philosophers, Strobel concludes that, when correctly interpreted, science and biblical teaching support each other and that "…science offers a surer path to God than religion."
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Vol 3, Issue 5
Getting Through the Tough Stuff
by Charles R. Swindoll, W Publishing

What do you do when things get so impossible you think you can’t go on for another minute? Amid rapid-fire schedules and intense demands, Getting through the Tough Stuff brings Christ’s light into the dark and complicated struggles we all face. Christ wants to grow us into mature believers who turn to Him in times of joy and in times of struggle. Offering practical insights from God’s Word, Swindoll shows how.
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Vol 3, Issue 4
Cracking DaVinci's Code
by James Garlow and Peter Jones, Victor Books

Fiction or not, people are puzzled and troubled by misconceptions in The DaVinci Code, best-selling novel by Dan Brown, because they’re disguised as historical evidence. Cracking DaVinci’s Code refutes these claims and provides the information necessary to “crack the code” with the Truth. Garlow and Jones, both top Christian research authors, trace Brown’s misguided and false teaching back to its roots, which, surprisingly, are still active in our culture and churches today.
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Vol 3, Issue 3
Indelible Ink
by Scott Larsen, Editor, Waterbrook Press

“Books shape us, dynamically molding our minds and souls,” says Scott Larsen. Drawing upon the biblical mandate that believers must be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2), he warns that one’s reading diet is nothing to take lightly. Larsen invites twenty-two of today’s top Christian authors to introduce readers to the writers and thinkers who most deeply influenced them.
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Vol 3, Issue 2
The Pressure's Off
by Larry Crabb, Waterbrook Press

There are two basic approaches to life—two pathways. One creates pressure, the other provides freedom. Larry Crabb explains how Christians can truly live in freedom when they desire God above His blessings – even blessings “earned” through obedience.
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Vol 3, Issue 1
Entrepreneurial Faith
by Kirbyjon Caldwell and Walt Kallestad with Paul Sorensen, Waterbrook Press

Entrepreneurial Faith boldly challenges pastors and other leaders to use their time, talents, and money to invest in practical expressions of ministry in their communities. Kirbyjon Caldwell and Walt Kallestad are two pastors who have strategically ventured out of their safe sanctuaries to make a difference for the kingdom of God.
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Vol 2, Issue 35
Boundaries in Marriage
by Henry Cloud and John Townsend, Zondervan

Drs. Cloud and Townsend help guide couples through the challenging journey of marriage. Recommending boundaries even in marriage, they emphasize the importance of respecting a spouse's personal "territory" and give tips for safeguarding a marriage from intruders such as idols, affairs, and well-meaning parents.
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Vol 2, Issue 34
Risking Church
by Jim Kallam, Jr., Waterbrook Press

Have you ever yearned to feel a deep sense of belonging or desired a place where it’s safe enough to truly be yourself? Jim Kallam’s theory is that the local church should be that authentic community and that Christians can intentionally create that environment.
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Vol 2, Issue 33
Fresh Faith
by Jim Cymbala, Zondervan

In Fresh Faith, sequel to Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala and Dean Merrill remind readers that God still responds powerfully to the authentic and radical faith of mere humans. This exciting story documents the testimonies of drug addicts, prostitutes, and others from Brooklyn Tabernacle who are miraculously set free by the grace and forgiveness of their heavenly Father.
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Vol 2, Issue 32
What's So Amazing About Grace?
by Philip Yancey, Zondervan

In "What's So Amazing About Grace?" award-winning author Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. If grace is God's love for the undeserving, he asks, then what does it look like in action? And if Christians are its sole dispensers, then how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? We speak of grace often. But do we understand it? More importantly, do we truly believe in it...and do our lives proclaim it as powerfully as our words? Through powerful stories, Philip Yancey takes a probing look at grace: what it looks like...what it doesn't look like...and why only Christians can and must reveal the grace the world is searching for.
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Vol 2, Issue 31
A Call to Responsible Freedom
by Lud Golz, Treasure House

Lud Golz calls Christians to responsible freedom, a delicate balance between legalism and license. He contends that while many operate at one end of the spectrum or another, spiritual maturity is possible in this area – somewhere between a rigid set of rules and a laissez-faire approach to life. He explores various areas of life such as family relationships, finances, and evangelism, giving practical and sometimes personal examples that enrich and support his premise.
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Vol 2, Issue 30
Loving God with All Your Mind
by Gene Edward Veith, Jr., Crossway Books

This revision of Gene Edward Veith, Jr.’s 1987 edition compares Daniel’s Babylonian experience to that of modern-day university students. He states that in the midst of contrary intellectual philosophies, thinking Christians should be able to not only survive, but to successfully combat the arguments of the modernists and postmodernists. Promoting higher education as a Christian vocation, he notes the biblical basis for pursuing different fields of study and encourages believers to gird up their minds so that they can positively influence this secularized culture.
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Vol 2, Issue 29
Running on Empty
by Fil Anderson, Waterbrook Press

The church has succumbed to a preoccupation with productivity, applying a “doing” mindset by pushing to maximize every believer’s output for God. Ironically, however, this focus keeps many from living intimately with God. Fil Anderson explains how to utilize silence, solitude, prayer, listening, Scripture, and other spiritual disciplines to experience the deeper joy of being with a caring, loving God.
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Vol 2, Issue 28
The Saving Life of Christ
by Major W. Ian Thomas, Zondervan

Many dedicated believers have come out of the old life but have never moved on to a full, victorious life in Christ. In this 1961 classic, Major W. Ian Thomas explores the doctrine of the indwelling Christ and challenges His followers to walk in the very energy and power of God Himself.
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Vol 2, Issue 27
Renovation of the Heart
by Dallas Willard, NavPress

You can experience significant growth in your Christian walk, have victory over sinful habits, and increasingly take on the character of Christ. Author Dallas Willard calls this "the transformation of the spirit," a divine process that brings every element in our being into harmony with the will of God.
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Vol 2, Issue 26
Rumors of Another World: What on Earth Are We Missing?
by Philip Yancey, Zondervan

Being in the world but not of the world is a challenge for most Christians, for we live in a world that requires truth to be empirical. Meanwhile, faith insists that what is the most real can not be seen, touched, or heard except deep inside. Yancey explains how can this invisible world gives substance and meaning to the one in which we reside.
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Vol 2, Issue 25
The Case for Christ
by Lee Strobel, Zondervan

Using the dramatic scenario of an investigative journalist pursuing his story and leads, Strobel uses his experience as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune to interview experts about the evidence for Christ from the fields of science, philosophy, and history.
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Vol 2, Issue 24
Executive Influence
by Mike Hamel and Christopher Crane, NavPress

Throughout history, the majority of believers have been called to share their faith at work. “Business owners and managers have the ability to influence their peers, investors, employees, and customers for good or ill,” says Mike Hamel, co-author of Executive Influence. “Christians in the marketplace, whether business leaders or employees, can create a faith-friendly work environment and lead people to Christ.” Drawing on the personal experiences of a cross-section of executives, Hamel and his co-author, Christopher Crane, show how business leaders can creatively integrate the Christian faith into the very fiber of the workplace.
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Vol 2, Issue 23
The Purpose Driven Life
by Rick Warren, Zondervan

The most basic question everyone faces in life is Why am I here? What is my purpose? Self-help books suggest that people should look within, at their own desires and dreams, but Rick Warren says the starting place must be with God and his eternal purposes for each life. Real meaning and significance comes from understanding and fulfilling God’s purposes for putting us on earth. The Purpose-Driven Life is a manifesto for Christian living based on eternal purposes, not cultural values.
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Vol 2, Issue 22
Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning
by Douglas Wilson, Crossway Books

While many factors have contributed to the demise of America’s public school system, Douglas Wilson lays much blame on modern teaching methods, as well as the idea that education can take place in a moral vacuum. He argues for a return to a classical education, firm discipline, and the requirement of hard work.
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Vol 2, Issue 21
The Grace and Truth Paradox
by Randy Alcorn, Multnomah Publishers

Truth devoid of grace results in self-righteousness and legalism. Grace without truth breeds deception and moral compromise. Is it possible to find a balance...like Jesus did? "In the end," says Randy Alcorn, "we don't need grace or truth. We need grace and truth. And for people to see Jesus in us, they must see both."
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Vol 2, Issue 20
The Doctrines of Grace
by Philip Graham Ryken and James Montgomery Boice, Crossway Books

Only a return to the core principles of Reformed theology, say authors Ryken and Boice, will be an effective antidote to the state of thorough worldliness that has established residency within the evangelical church. Evangelicalism, they hold, desperately needs to return to the doctrines that once before reformed the world: radical depravity, unconditional election, particular redemption, efficacious grace, and persevering grace.
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Vol 2, Issue 19
Christianity on Trial
by Vincent Carroll and David Shiflett, Encounter Books

Modern skeptics often blame Christianity for a wide range of atrocities in human history. Christians, they claim, repressed people and impeded the advancement of civilization. In this book Carroll and Shiflett set the record straight and paint a picture of a church that ended slavery, created hospitals for the poor, and gave birth to the modern concept that the individual is a creation of God worthy of dignity.
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Vol 2, Issue 18
Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit
by Charles R. Swindoll, W Publishing Group

The Apostle Paul's life was full of amazing twists and turns. From his place as a fiery enemy of Christ, Paul went on to put his faith in the risen Lord. Amazingly, he then penned thirteen letters of the New Testament. Though his life was marked by unthinkable persecution and pain, Paul models for us the joy of serving Christ passionately and unreservedly.
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Vol 2, Issue 17
Bringing Up Boys
by James Dobson, Tyndale House Publishers

Author of million-selling parenting books, including The Strong Willed Child and The New Dare to Discipline, James Dobson provides a biblically-based guide to understanding and guiding boys to adulthood. Boys, he says, face a world filled with violence, lack of boundaries, and conflicting rules of behavior. They need solid, consistence guidance from their parents...based on a solid foundation of principles gleaned from God's Word.
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Vol 2, Issue 16
Things Unseen
by Mark Buchanan, Multnomah Publishers

Urging fellow believers to be consumed by the promise of heaven, author and pastor Mark Buchanan says that when we fix our hearts and minds on heaven, heaven will "fix" us. Unless Christians deliberately cling to the hope of the hereafter, he says, we will become so earthly minded that we will be of no heavenly good.
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Vol 2, Issue 15
Coaching Ministry Teams
by Kenneth O. Gangel, W Publishing Group

This is a book about coaching, but in a field far more important than football, basketball, or baseball. When it comes to effective discipleship, it takes a coach who is capable of not only leading by example, but also empowering his "players" to stay the course. Gangel examines, among other topics, the attitudes in "The Heart of a Champion," leadership modeling in "Setting the Standard for the Team," and strategic planning in "Looking Down the Field."
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Vol 2, Issue 14
Light in the Shadow of Jihad
by Ravi Zacharias, Multnomah Publishers

The terrorists who brought death to thousands said they did it in God's name. Thousands of Christians around the world gathered in churches to pray for peace, while others blamed the very idea of God for the tragedy. Ravi Zacharias addresses five of the key questions on people's minds since September 11, believing that "if we find those answers, they will spell life, steadying the soul even though the heart still aches."
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Vol 2, Issue 13
The Allure of Hope
by Jan Meyers, NavPress

Hope holds out the alluring promise of the good that is yet to come. But what happens when longing is met with unrealized requests, disease, severed friendships, infertility, singleness, lost passion, wayward children, or the sheer repetition of life? Many women forego the promise of hope in order to avoid the pain that disappointment and loss often brings. "We either respond to hope with our hearts," says Jan Meyers, "or we try to push it down. Responding to hope brings a deepened sense of thirst and ache but it reminds us what it truly means to be a woman."
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Vol 2, Issue 12
Love Walked Among Us
by Paul Miller, NavPress

His name is recognized the world over. Christians claim to follow Him. Muslims honor Him as a prophet. And many Jewish rabbis regard Him as a great teacher. Everyone knows about Jesus, but how many of us fully understand what He was like as a person? Nowhere was the vitality of Jesus more visible than in His love, a love unlike any the world has ever seen. Such an example doesn't just happen. How did he do it? And how can we learn to love like him?
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Vol 2, Issue 11
Building Bridges
by Fouad Accad, NavPress

Muslims and Christians both worship one God. While there are distinct and specific differences between these two faiths, there are many areas of common ground. Consequently, there are ample opportunities for believers in Christ to build meaningful relationships with Muslims. Fouad Accad grew up in Lebanon and spent most of his life there buiding bridges between followers of Christianity and followers of Islam. His passion was to bring these two communities together by building bridges of understanding, communication, and love. In this book Accad supplies readers with the information, concrete examples, and insights necessary to develop genuine friendships with Muslims and communicate to them the life-changing hope found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Vol 2, Issue 10
Justice That Restores
by Charles Colson, Tyndale House Publishers

Charles Colson contends that the only way a system of true justice can be established is if it is built upon the foundation of a sound, biblical worldview. Colson draws on 25 years of personal experiences, an extensive study of the justice system, and countless personal encounters with individual prisoners to offer answers for correcting the failures of the criminal justice system and the moral state of our culture.
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Vol 2, Issue 9
Making Today Count for Eternity
by Kent Crockett, Multnomah Publishers

Will the life lessons you're learning and sharing with others all be lost, or will they lead to a rich, rewarding reality to come? In an age when more and more people are concluding that life is pointless, Pastor Kent Crockett proclaims that, in fact, how we live life today is critically important for all time.
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Vol 2, Issue 8
Your God Is Too Safe
by Mark Buchanan, Multnomah Publishers

In this first-person "spiritual geography" based on Jonah, author Mark Buchanan discovers a God who is loving—but also unpredictable. Using stories, references, and quotes from great--and simple--people of faith, Buchanan suggests that too many believers choose to hide or keep their distance from a God who is so “unsafe.” Too often, he says, we end up in “borderland,” a comfortable place, but a place sorely lacking the passion, power, and freedom that we seek. For those stuck in borderland, Buchanan offers tools, holy habits, that he believes will guide the reader to the danger, wonder, and beauty of a God who isn’t safe--but is very, very good.
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Vol 2, Issue 7
He Chose the Nails
by Max Lucado, Word Publishing

Lucado invites readers to understand the symbols surrounding Christ's crucifixion and celebrate the significance of the promises they offer. He describes these 13 symbols as gifts of grace that reveal God's love for mankind. The author invites us to examine the cross, contemplate its purpose, and embrace the peace and love of Christ that are found through its pain and sorrow.
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Vol 2, Issue 6
The Prayer of Jabez
by Bruce Wilkinson, Multnomah Publishers

Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, president of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, examines the life of Jabez, one of the most overlooked heroes of the faith in the Bible. Taking readers to 1 Chronicles 4:10, Wilkinson shows how the prayer brought Jabez an extraordinary measure of divine favor, anointing, and protection. He is convinced that believers who commit to offering the same prayer on a regular basis will find themselves extravagantly blessed and used by God.
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Vol 2, Issue 5
The Ragamuffin Gospel
by Brennan Manning, Multnomah Publishers

Our heavenly Father beckons us to Himself with a furious love that burns brightly and constantly. Contrary to popular opinion, God does not tally our defects and hang His head in disappointment when we fail. He loves us as we are, not for what we do. Only when we truly embrace God's grace can we bask in the joy of a Gospel that enfolds the most needy of His flock, the ragamuffins.
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Vol 2, Issue 4
The New Tolerance
by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler, Tyndale House Publishers

There is a new brand of tolerance that characterizes a powerful cultural movement. Based on the notion that truth is relative to the community in which a person participates, this new tolerance does not even resemble traditional tolerance. Unmasking the true nature of this movement and its insidious effects on faith, McDowell and Hostetler teach their readers how to neutralize this threat by discerning truth from error. They also make a case for responding with Christ's love to a hostile culture that seems willing to tolerate just about anything except biblical truth.
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Vol 2, Issue 3
A Bend in the Road
by David Jeremiah, Word Publishing

When your world falls apart without warning, where is God? You ask why me? Why now? Why this? Pastor David Jeremiah asked these questions when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. God gave him incredible comfort and encouragement as he meditated on the Psalms. Dr. Jeremiah came to a fresh realization that God wants us to trust Him completely with the future, knowing His plans are best for us.
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Vol 2, Issue 2
Spiritual Leadership
by J. Oswald Sanders, Moody Press

The late J. Oswald Sanders, consulting director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship, wrote Spiritual Leadership as one of a three-part series on discipleship. The Church, he says, needs leaders willing to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the Lord's service. According to Sanders, we miss the mark when we allow qualities like interpersonal skills and management expertise to eclipse godly character as we select and groom Christian leaders. Oswald outlines the natural and spiritual qualities necessary for leadership and illustrates them from Scripture as well as biographies of eminent men and women of God.
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Vol 2, Issue 1
George Muller of Bristol: His Life of Prayer and Faith
by A.T. Pierson, Kregel Publications

This classic biography, first published in the United States in 1899, traces George Muller's single-minded dependence upon prayer as well as his compassion for the orphans in his hometown of Bristol, England. Author A.T. Pierson, who pastored the famous Metropolitan Tabernacle after Charles Spurgeon's death, recounts the inspiring story of Muller's life and the principles of Christian living that guided him.
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Vol 1, Issue 25
Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message
by Ravi Zacharias, Word Publishing

Well-known Christian apologist and host of the radio broadcast "Let My People Think," Ravi Zacharias defends the Christian message by showing how it stands the test of truth in an age of pluralism. Analyzing Christ's treatment of six key questions, Zacharias compares His responses with those espoused by key world religions.
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Vol 1, Issue 24
The Disconnected Generation: Saving Our Youth from Self-Destruction
by Josh McDowell, Word Publishing

Well-known speaker/author Josh McDowell contends that a lack of strong relational connections is a key ingredient in today's troubled youth culture. In this book, he identifies factors that lead to this disconnection and explains the impact of postmodern thinking on adult-youth relationships. He goes on to encourage adults to recognize and establish crucial connection points with young people--sensitizing them to the fact that the teenagers with the strongest connections will be the ones best equipped to make positive choices and lead healthy lives.
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Vol 1, Issue 22
Ten Lies About God And How You May Already Be Deceived
by Erwin Lutzer, Word Publishing

Seasoned pastor/teacher Lutzer dispels ten misconceptions about God embraced by popular culture. Troubled that a "made-in-our-own-image God" has crept into the hearts and minds of Christ's followers, Lutzer makes a case for replacing these false images with the truth of who God is, the nature of His relationship with mankind, and His plan for the world.
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Vol 1, Issue 21
Post-Modern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the 21st Century Church
by Leonard Sweet, Broadman & Holman Publishers

Author/theologian Leonard Sweet urges believers to keep the past and future in perpetual conversation--so every generation will find a fresh, relevant expression of the Gospel that is based on God's unchanging principles. The old structures of the Church, he says, must evolve to reach this new generation; doing the same things the same way will not suffice. Sweet identifies several characteristics of the modern culture, and then suggests several ways the church can effectively impact this culture.
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Vol 1, Issue 18
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
by John Foxe (1517-1587), From the Christian Book Summaries Classics Collection

Writing in the mid-1500s, the author was living in the midst of intense religious persecution at the hands of the dominant Roman Catholic Church. In graphic detail, he offers accounts of Christians being martyred for the belief in Jesus Christ. He describes how God gave them extraordinary courage and stamina to endure unthinkable torture.
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Vol 1, Issue 17
Just Give Me Jesus
by Anne Graham Lotz, Word Publishing

Anne Graham Lotz traces the life of Christ by exploring the eyewitness accounts found in the Gospel of John. She purposes to bring these biblical stories to life, plucking from them truths that will encourage and revitalize weary believers.
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Vol 1, Issue 14
The Murder of Jesus: A Study of How Jesus Died
by John MacArthur, Word Publishing

In this study of Christ's final week on earth, MacArthur reveals the illegal nature of His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Yet he shows how His death demonstrated His sovereign omniscience, fulfilled prophecies, and demonstrated that Jesus was fully human while fully divine.
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Vol 1, Issue 13
The Ten Words That Will Change A Nation: The Ten Commandments
by Rob Schenck, Albury Publishing

Calling for a recognition of biblical morality in our national institutions, Rev. Schenck affirms the validity and practicality of the Ten Commandments and applies the message of the ancient Law to modern life. Schenck, a "missionary" to appointed and elected officials in Washington, contends that if we follow them personally and honor them publicly, they can and will change a nation.
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Vol 1, Issue 12
Are We Really Living In the End Times?
by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, Tyndale House Publishers

Authors of the popular Left Behind fiction series, LaHaye and Jenkins draw on their understanding of biblical prophecy to explain end time events. Noted Bible prophecy scholar Dr. Tim LaHaye articulates 20 reasons he believes it is reasonable--and biblical--to believe the Rapture and Tribulation could occur during this generation.
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Vol 1, Issue 11
Orthodoxy
by G.K. Chesterton (1847-1936), From the Christian Book Summaries Classics Collection

First published in 1908 when Chesterton was 35, this book is his argument for the simple plausibility of traditional Christianity. A master of the written word, and one who knew his Master, this exuberant journalist communicated the sufficiency of orthodox Christianity as the best response to modern man's intellectual concerns.
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Vol 1, Issue 10
Jesus' Final Warning: Hearing Christ's Voice in the Midst of Chaos
by David Jeremiah, Word Publishing

Just prior to the new millennium and the Y2K computer scare, an era of stress and confusion dominated American culture. God does not want His people to despair, Jeremiah says. Neither does He want deception to creep in. What He does want is a Church that is saturated in His Word, knowledgeable about what it teaches, and ready for the moment of His coming!
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Vol 1, Issue 9
When Christ Comes
by Max Lucado, Word Publishing

Lucado urges believers to anticipate Christ's return with a posture of preparedness and peace, viewing it as "the beginning of the very best" for His followers. Christ's return to earth, Lucado says, is not a riddle to be solves, nor a code to be broken; Christians should not dread or fear it. In fact, it is possible--even biblical--to study the Second Coming and know God's peace and comfort.
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Vol 1, Issue 8
The Mystery of God's Will
by Charles R. Swindoll, Word Publishing

Affirming God's absolute sovereignty and the mystery inherent in God's will, Swindoll traces it in the lives of selected biblical figures. Through these examples, he teaches about God's nature and wisdom--and seeks to prepare readers to navigate the road ahead-a path hidden in the often surprising mystery of God's will.
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Vol 1, Issue 7
The Upside Down Church
by Greg Laurie, Tyndale House Publishers

Pastor/evangelist Greg Laurie offers key insights from the first-century church, a vision-driven model based on spiritual fervor, vibrant ministry, and passionate evangelism.
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Vol 1, Issue 6
The Safest Place on Earth
by Larry Crabb, Word Publishing

The church should be a safe place, a haven where people can expect to find compassion and support in dealing with weaknesses. Too often, however, the church is a place where people hide their failures and trumpet their goodness. This book makes a case for the healing power of brokenness, and the benefits of spiritual connection with others-transmitting God's grace to deliberately change lives.
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Vol 1, Issue 3
How Now Shall We Live?
by Charles Colson with Nancy Pearcey, Tyndale House Publishers

In this 1999 bestseller, Colson asserts that Christians are called not only to personal faith, but also to a biblical worldview--one that has the power to transform the world today. Revealing how the clash of two worldviews (naturalism and Christian theism) impacts contemporary issues, this book arms believers with sound responses to assaults on Christianity.
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