From The Pastor's Pen (Letters on Living Christ and Being Christ's Body)

From The Pastor's Pen (Letters on Living Christ and Being Christ's Body) PDF

Author: Pastor Bert Baker

Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

Published: 2016-07-25

Total Pages: 431

ISBN-13: 1681974517

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How do you get new Christians who do not know one another to work at building and growing relationships in a new Church? This is essential in a new Church because the teaching and training of the core group of believers becomes the nucleus of the Body of Christ. This is the obstacle Pastor Baker faced in planting a church in Newark, NJ. Although the people came from the same urban neighborhood, it did not appear these new believers had much in common. So Pastor Baker decided to write a monthly Bible-based letter on living for Christ and how to be the Church and do its work. He planned to write From the Pastor's Pen for a year or so to teach biblical truth and to develop bridges to build lasting Christian relationships. But this short-term project grew as new believers added addresses to the mailing list. Soon twenty families were fifty and then over one hundred. Believers made copies and passed them out at work. These monthly letters became the teaching materials for small-group Bible studies, and were used by missionaries in the Dutch West Indies. So from November of 1984 until June of 2014, a monthly letter was written. Pastor Baker's short-term project became a long-term ministry. With the help of brothers and sisters in the Newark Church, the letters in this book were selected so you can live Christ and be Christ's Body. May you grow in Christ and effectively be and do the work of the Church.

Life in the Body of Christ

Life in the Body of Christ PDF

Author: Curtis Thomas

Publisher:

Published: 2023-10

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781943539437

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This books seeks to provide practical ways in which members can better serve their congregations and, ultimately, be better servants of our Lord.

Reimagining the Body of Christ in Paul's Letters

Reimagining the Body of Christ in Paul's Letters PDF

Author: Yung Suk Kim

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2019-05-08

Total Pages: 66

ISBN-13: 1532677766

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This book questions all familiar readings of the body of Christ in Paul’s letters and helps readers rethink the context and the purpose of this phrase. Against the view that Paul’s body of Christ metaphor mainly has to do with a metaphorical organism that emphasizes unity, Kim argues that the body of Christ has more to do with the embodiment of God’s gospel through Christ. While Deutero-Pauline and pastoral letters use this body metaphor mainly as an organism, Paul’s undisputed letters—in particular, 1 Corinthians and Romans—treat it differently, with a focus on Christlike embodiment. Reexamining the diverse use of the body of Christ in Paul’s undisputed letters, this book argues that Paul’s body of Christ metaphor has to do with the proclamation of God’s gospel.

I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die

I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die PDF

Author: Sarah J. Robinson

Publisher: WaterBrook

Published: 2021-05-11

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 0593193539

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A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.

The Christ Letter

The Christ Letter PDF

Author: Douglas D. Webster

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2012-10-09

Total Pages: 205

ISBN-13: 1621899497

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The Christ Letter is a conversation partner for pastors and students of the Bible who want to wrestle with the meaning of the biblical text for Christian living today. Scholarly commentaries perform an essential task, but they often leave today's believers on their own when it comes to making Paul's letter come alive. Doug Webster weaves together deep biblical insights, penetrating cultural perspectives, and stories of transformation into a pastoral commentary that promises to release the powerful message of Ephesians. This commentary offers lines of thought, illustrations, and applications that carry the gospel into the present situation. Webster draws out the personal and practical impact of Paul's spiritual direction for today. The Christ Letter gives pastors a fresh perspective and a better handle on how to preach Ephesians effectively. Webster inspires and guides faithful disciples in what it means to follow Jesus in a Christ-centered way.

Life Letter

Life Letter PDF

Author: Mark Martin

Publisher:

Published: 2015-01-02

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13: 9781505586664

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What is a "Life Letter?" How is it written? How does your letter read? These are the guiding questions in this book. "Life Letter" is a book about our lives as letters written by Jesus Christ and read by others. The idea for the book is based on the Apostle Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3. He writes: "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are letters written by him to the world. We are known and read by everybody with whom our lives intersect. God wants our letters to give them a glimpse of his grace and its power to transform their lives. Even if you're not a follower of Jesus Christ, this book is for you, especially the first three chapters. Read with an open heart and mind allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Let God be the writer of your "Life Letter".

Letters to a Young Congregation

Letters to a Young Congregation PDF

Author: Eric E. Peterson

Publisher: NavPress

Published: 2020-06-02

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 1641581158

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Eugene Peterson instilled the love of the local church in his family, and especially his son, pastor Eric E. Peterson. This collection of letters, written over several years by Eric, offers a poignant, pastoral vision for what the people of God are to be about in their personal lives and their life together. You'll find this wisdom for one local church to be warm, winsome, knowing, understanding, and universally relevant. Eric E. Peterson addresses essential questions such as "What is a church? What should a church be doing? What do we owe each other? What can we expect from one another? How do we follow Christ together?" A pastor in the state of Washington, he wrestled with how to grow his infant church into a mature Christian community. This book was born in the midst of a church coming to life, and is a compelling read for any pastor, church leader, or congregant. Purchase individually or together with Letters to a Young Pastor, a book that contains letters written back and forth between Eugene Peterson and his son, Eric E. Peterson.