We can learn a lot about the value of human life by watching the way parents, doctors, and nurses tenderly hold, look at, and speak to a newborn child. We can also learn a lot about the son of Mary by watching the way two very different groups responded to His birth. In this excerpt of Windows On Christmas, Bill Crowder explains how the wonder and worship of angels and shepherds help us to see the inexpressible value and miracle of the most important child ever born.
Early 19th-century American statesman Henry Clay wrote, “Of all human powers operating on the affairs of mankind, none is greater than that of competition.” It’s even more pronounced in the 21st century. Because we live in such a competitive world, this booklet was written to explore the value, the benefits, and the dangers of competition—and what it takes for a follower of Christ to compete with honor and confidence.
It’s easy to be cynical about religious fundraisers. They talk about giving to God by writing out a check to them. It’s also easy to forget, however, that Jesus talked more about money than He did about heaven. Yet I’ve never heard anyone suggest that Jesus “was in it for the money.”
In this excerpt of the book True North, pastor Gary Inrig offers a compass for our souls. He expresses...
The decisions you make in life, whether good or bad, will inevitably set the tone for years to come. Find out how you can prepare for those critical moments in this excerpt of Defining Moments: When Choices Matter Most by author Dan Schaeffer. Gain insight from the lives of two biblical characters who made wrong choices. Discover how you can make wise choices during critical times that will glorify God and positively affect your future.
How do we maintain our personal faith in God in the midst of a constantly deteriorating and even hostile culture? Daniel shows us how. In this study of the prophet’s life, we learn that we can either be poured into our society’s mold or, like Daniel, we can use the darkness as an opportunity to reflect the light of our God. Learn what it means to be a Daniel in your own generation.
Two very different men—one an idol worshiper, the other a shepherd and king—had something significant in common. They both had to deal with the disappointment and frustration of failure and then having to move beyond that failure. In this study, David Roper looks at the lives of David and Manasseh to help us learn lessons that can only be learned in the aftermath of episodes of failure—and then how to grow beyond them.
As Jesus suffered on an executioner’s cross, onlookers thought they overheard Him calling for Elijah to come help Him. Then they waited to see if Elijah would appear on the scene. Why Elijah, of all people? Who was this Old Testament prophet who made such an impact on the history of Israel that people were still talking about him hundreds of years later? This booklet reveals insights in the story of Elijah that tell us a lot about our God—and about ourselves.
Choices—life is full of them. We have to make them, but how do we make good choices? For help in wise decision-making, we can turn to the Word of God and learn by precept and example. This booklet by Alice Mathews looks at Eve and Rahab—two women in the Bible who wrestled with problems that are surprisingly similar to those we all face. And as we examine the choices they made, we will find principles to help us make better choices in our lives.
What does it mean to have an intimate relationship with God? What does it look like, and how is it achieved? Once achieved, how is it maintained? What are the obstacles to closeness with God? In this excerpt of Radical Reality: Living 24/7 With God At The Center, longtime pastor and Christian leader Joe Stowell helps us to focus on the realistic expectations and the accompanying myths of experiencing intimacy with God.
Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah. But we usually don’t read it from the standpoint of success and failure. This booklet, however, examines the life of the Old Testament prophet Jonah and discovers someone who succeeded at failure and failed at success. Jonah’s life drives home the lesson that those who are forgiven much should love much, and that those who have received mercy should be merciful.