deep christian questions to ask friends: After 50 Years of Ministry Bob Russell, 2016-05-13 “If I had my entire life to live over, I’d choose to be a preacher again. It’s been extremely rewarding and gratifying. But I could do ministry a lot better if given a second try. As I look back on my forty years at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, I wish I had a mulligan. This book lists seven things I’d do differently and seven I’d do about the same. They are written in hopes they’ll be a source of encouragement for those growing weary and losing heart. I pray my observations will inspire others to conclude, ‘If he can do it, I can, too.’ In this book I share both the joys and sorrows of my ministry, both the successes and failures. I’m going to be as transparent as possible in hopes that it will encourage ministers to stand firm in the faith and be faithful unto death. If just one minister is motivated to pick up the sword of the Spirit and re-enter the battle, it will be well worth the effort.” — Bob Russell |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Parenting Brett Ullman, 2020-07-31 After more than two decades and over two thousand presentations, my interactions with parents reveal that although most want to learn and parent their best, they feel ill-equipped. Kids don’t come with manuals. The goal of this book is to equip and empower you as a parent, grandparent, or youth leader to help kids navigate all aspects of life in the current culture. How do we sift through the unending philosophies on parenting and be intentional in how we choose what’s best for our family? The number of voices is overwhelming. This book distills the essential elements of parenting so you can apply them in your own home. It approaches parenting from a Christian perspective and is filled with practical advice that is applicable to everyone. As we explore the foundations of parenting, we will look at: Parenting. What are the stages of parenting? What is the current state of parenting? What is the purpose of parenting? Parenting styles. What are they and which ones should I be using? What might I need to alter about my current parenting style? Progression of parenting. What are the skills our children need to learn? Time. What does quality time and being present with my kids look like? Communication. How can I gain better communication skills so that I can more effectively connect with my kids? Discipline. How do I effectively discipline my children? Family discipleship. Why is our worldview important, and how we can raise kids with a Christian worldview? Mental Health. How do we address issues like anxiety, panic attacks, and depression? Engaging the Culture. How do we empower our kids to engage the culture around us without compromising their faith? Media. How can we help our kids navigate technology? Sexuality. How do we direct our kids towards healthy sexuality? Pornography. What is the prevalence of pornography and how do we address its impact on our kids? Dating. How do we best avoid pitfalls in dating? Finances and education. How can we help our children make sound financial and education choices? Drugs and alcohol. What tools are available to assist in drug-proofing our kids? Loneliness. How do we prevent disconnection in our kids and help them to create community? |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Girl Defined Kristen Clark, Bethany Baird, 2016-05-10 In a Culture of Distortions, Discover God-Defined Womanhood and Beauty In a culture where airbrushed models and career-driven women define beauty and success, it's no wonder we have a distorted view of femininity. Our impossible standards place an incredible burden of stress on the backs of women and girls of all ages, resulting in anxiety, eating disorders, and depression. One question we often forget to ask is this: What is God's design for womanhood? In Girl Defined, sisters and popular bloggers Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal offer women a countercultural view of beauty, femininity, and self-worth. Based firmly in God's design for their lives, this book helps women rethink what true success and beauty look like. It invites them on a liberating journey toward a radically better vision for femininity that ends with the discovery of the kind of hope, purpose, and fulfillment they've been yearning for. Girl Defined helps readers · discover God's design for femininity and his definition of a successful woman · uncover the secrets of lasting worth, purpose, and fulfillment · be equipped and empowered to live out a radically better vision for womanhood · gain personal insight through the chapter-by-chapter study guide |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Friend-ish Kelly Needham, 2019-08-27 For so many of us, our friends are like family members--we lean on them through our highest highs and our lowest lows--but sometimes those friendships don't turn out quite as we hoped. Bible teacher Kelly Needham debunks our world's constricted, narrow view of friendship and casts a richer, more life-giving, biblical vision for friendship. In Friend-ish, Kelly Needham reminds us that we were called to more than halfhearted friendships and lukewarm connections. We need something more stable, secure, and sacred. We were designed for real friendship--but the difficult truth is that too many of us are settling for less. Kelly deconstructs what Scripture says about the gift of friendship and takes a closer look at the distorted view that most of us have instead. As she shares the lessons she's learned from experience, Kelly paints her own glorious vision of what Christian friendship could look like. With hard-fought wisdom, a clear view of Scripture, and a been-there perspective, Friend-ish teaches us how to: Recognize symptoms of idolatry and toxic dependency Boldly ask for what we need from our community of friends Understand and address the problems that arise in friendship--from neediness to discord Recognize when it's time to end an unhealthy friendship Reorient toward the purposeful, loving relationships we all crave that ultimately bring us closer to God Find the friends you need and start to become that friend for others Join Kelly as she challenges you to view your chosen family in a new light, gain a vision of friendship according to Jesus, and finally enjoy friendships as God intended. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Generational IQ Haydn Shaw, 2015-10-01 Why is my daughter drifting from God? Why can’t I explain my life choices to my parents? When will my son get a real job? Within the last several decades, the world has shifted dramatically. The cracks of this fundamental shift appear everywhere: in our economy, in our cultural debates, in our political landscape, and, most important, in our churches. The problem is we tend to overreact to these changes, fearing that Christianity is dying. We need better Generational IQ, so we can respond to the changes but not be terrified by them. We need a wise generational coach. Haydn Shaw is that generational expert, showing us the roots of this generational shift and how it affects every one of us. Each generation, whether it’s the aging Boomers or the young Millennials, approaches God with a different set of questions and needs based on the times in which they grew up. Haydn walks you through these generational differences and paints a vision of hope for the future. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: A New Kind of Apologist Sean McDowell, 2016-03-01 A New Kind of Apologist, edited by Sean McDowell and with contributions from more than 20 leading apologists, is the go-to resource for effectively defending the Christian faith in our changing culture. In it you'll discover: important topics often ignored by apologists, such as transgender issues, religious freedom, and the intersection of economics and apologetics a new kind of apologetics that is relational, gracious, and holistic interviews with both seasoned apologists and skeptics, providing insights into how to do apologetics effectively in today's culture A New Kind of Apologist addresses the latest issues, including Connecting Apologetics to the Heart Teaching Apologetics to the Next Generation Apologetics in our Sexually Broken Culture Apologetics and Islam Apologetics and Religious Freedom and adopts fresh strategies for reaching those who are outside the church with the truth of the gospel. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Take Care of Your Type Christina S. Wilcox, 2020-12-15 Discover the self-care tips specifically designed for your Enneagram type with this simple yet illuminating guide from popular Enneagram expert Christina S. Wilcox. Many of us have used the Enneagram of Personality to understand ourselves on a profoundly intimate level. But despite what our Enneagram type reveals, it’s not always easy to know the best ways to take care of ourselves according to our unique personalities. In Take Care of Your Type, Enneagram expert and social media sensation Christina S. Wilcox uses her knowledge of the Enneagram to illuminate how each of the nine Enneagram types can practice better self-care. Answering questions ranging from “What is the best morning routine for my type?” to “What boundaries are important to set based on my individual personality traits?” this handy guide filled with beautiful color illustrations will help you recenter and reconnect with yourself amid the stress of daily life and will leave you feeling happier and healthier in mind, body, and spirit. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Not Yet Married Marshall Segal, 2017-06-20 Life Is Never Mainly About Love and Marriage. So Learn to Live and Date for More. Many of you grew up assuming that marriage would meet all of your needs and unlock God's purposes for you. But God has far more planned for you than your future marriage. Not Yet Married is not about waiting quietly in the corner of the world for God to bring you the one, but about inspiring you to live and date for more now. If you follow Jesus, the search for a spouse is no longer a pursuit of the perfect person, but a pursuit of more of God. He will likely write a love story for you different than the one you would write for yourself, but that's because he loves you and knows how to write a better story. This book was written to help you find real hope, happiness, and purpose in your not-yet-married life. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Marriage After God Aaron Smith, Jennifer Smith, 2019-06-04 What if God has purposed your marriage for something so much more than happily ever after? Since the very beginning, God's design for marriage has been for husbands and wives to be ambassadors of holy love to a hurting world. Still, too many couples stop short at happy and wonder why they feel unsatisfied. Rather than you and me against the world, God calls each couple to the rich and meaningful mission of you and me for the world. In Marriage After God, Aaron and Jennifer Smith, popular marriage bloggers at HusbandRevolution.com and UnveiledWife.com, transparently share their own journey of turning a marriage in crisis into a marriage built on Christ's redemptive love. With fresh biblical insight and intimate stories of their own struggles and victories, this book will guide you toward a God-centered, ministry-minded, and thriving marriage. Throughout Marriage After God, you'll learn to: Discover the signature marks of a marriage after God Find principles for building an unshakable marriage foundation Let God's story take the lead in your love story Recognize the tools God has already equipped you with for a missional life together Filled with timeless wisdom, this thorough and practical book will empower you and your spouse to dream, decide, and do as you step hand in hand into God's ultimate purpose for your marriage. God has created your remarkable, romantic, and redemptive relationship to be a powerful light to a dark and hurting world. Let Marriage After God be your invitation to marriage as God intended--a life-saving, hope-inspiring, and transforming force of God's love. Praise for Marriage After God: This book is an incredible resource for anyone trying to grow or step into a healthier and more life-giving marriage. Aaron and Jen pull no punches; are honest, raw, and authentic; and show that a marriage in pursuit of Jesus can change the world. --Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus > Religion There is a short list of books I'm stashing away for my three small kiddos to read when they are older--Marriage After God is one of them. Dear couples of the world, you have picked up a treasure! This book will give you clear direction to live out God's will for your marriage. There is no greater gift you can give yourselves than to run after Him together. Marriage After God will show you how! --Lara Casey, author of Cultivate and Make It Happen |
deep christian questions to ask friends: 50 Simple Questions for Every Christian Guy P. Harrison, 2013 A friendly and conversational inquiry from a skeptic about basic Christian belief. Designed to promote constructive dialogue, Christians will find the book useful as a basis for developing their apologetics, while skeptics will welcome Harrisons probing rational analysis of religious claims. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Confronting Christianity Rebecca McLaughlin, 2019-04-17 Although many people suggest that Christianity is declining, research indicates that it continues to be the world's most popular worldview. But even so, the Christian faith includes many controversial beliefs that non-Christians find hard to accept. This book explores 12 issues that might cause someone to dismiss orthodox Christianity—issues such as the existence of suffering, the Bible's teaching on gender and sexuality, the reality of heaven and hell, the authority of the Bible, and more. Showing how the best research from sociology, science, and psychology doesn't disagree with but actually aligns with claims found in the Bible, these chapters help skeptics understand why these issues are signposts, rather than roadblocks, to faith in Christ. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Hard Questions, Real Answers William Lane Craig, 2003-10-17 Why doesn't God answer my prayers? If God is so powerful, why does evil exist? And if He is so good, why do we suffer? Nonbelievers, and even Christians, are often troubled by questions about suffering, doubt, failure, and unanswered prayer. Yet careful, compassionate answers are hard to find, in part because evangelicals have not taken the life of the mind seriously enough. The intellectual currents of our day are just too strong for simplistic responses. In Hard Questions, Real Answers, William Lane Craig doesn't offer trite phrases or pat answers-he offers honest insights gained from a life of study and ministry. Readers in the midst of doubt and confusion will find real answers to these perplexing questions and learn to stand on the only sure foundation for hope-God Himself. This expanded new edition includes chapters on abortion and homosexuality to help readers know how to think about these volatile social issues. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Letters from a Skeptic Dr. Gregory A. Boyd, Edward Boyd, 2010-01-01 Explore the profound dynamics between a Christian son and his skeptical father in this powerful book, as it delves into the big questions of Christianity with a compelling blend of intelligent answers and heartfelt faith. Greg Boyd and his father, Ed, were on opposite sides of a great divide. Greg was a newfound Christian, while his father was a longtime agnostic. So Greg offered his father an invitation: Ed could write with any questions on Christianity, and his son would offer a response. Letters from a Skeptic contains this special correspondence. The letters tackle some of today's toughest challenges facing Christianity, including: Do all non-Christians go to hell? How can we believe a man rose from the dead? Why is the world so full of suffering? How do we know the Bible was divinely inspired? Does God know the future? Each response offers insights into these difficult questions, while delivering intelligent answers that connect with both the heart and mind. Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, or just unsure, these letters can provide a practical, common-sense guide to the Christian faith. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Born Again This Way Rachel Gilson, 2020-03 Addresses some of the questions raised by Christians with same-sex attraction. As a Christian who experiences same-sex attraction, is it possible to live a life that's both faithful and fulfiling? Rachel Gilson wants to show you that it is and that it's not just a case of limping to the finish line, it's possible to run the race with joy. In this powerful and personal book, she describes her own unexpected journey of coming out and coming to faith... and what came next. As she does so, she addresses many of the questions that Christians living with same-sex attraction are wrestling with: Am I consigned to a life of loneliness? How do I navigate my friendships? Will my desires ever change? Is there some greater purpose to all this? What comes next, and next, and next? Drawing on insights from the Bible and the experiences of others, Born Again This Way provides assurance and encouragement for Christians with same-sex attraction, and paints a compelling picture of discipleship for every believer. Whatever your sexuality, this book is an inspiring testimony of how a life submitted to Jesus will be fulfilling and fruitful, but not always in the ways we might expect. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Love Without Limits Nick Vujicic, Kanae Vujicic, 2014-11-18 It Doesn’t Take a Perfect Person to Find a Perfect Love Even though he was born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic created a “ridiculously good life.” But after dating disappointments and a failed relationship, he reached his mid-twenties worried that he would never find a woman to love him and share his life. Then Nick met Kanae and everything changed. But even with undeniable chemistry, they would have to navigate twists and turns worthy of a romantic comedy before becoming one in marriage. In Love Without Limits Nick and Kanae tell how they improbably found each other, fell in love, and then fought to overcome skepticism from others about their relationship. Filled with practical insights that will benefit any couple, this inspiring book describes a godly courtship and the early years of the Vujicics’ marriage and parenting journey. Above all, Love Without Limits is an inspiring reminder that when Christ is at the center of a relationship--even with serious challenges--true love will triumph. *** “Despite my optimism about other parts of life, I decided that love in this world had limits after all. I’d become convinced that no woman would want to marry such an obviously imperfect man as me….” As a boy growing up in Australia, Nick Vujicic could not understand why God had allowed him to be born without limbs and if He would ever bring a woman into Nick’s life. On the other side of the world, Kanae Miyahara—a girl growing up in Mexico--saw dysfunction sadly separate her family. She wondered if a loving, lasting marriage was even possible. Later, when Nick realized that God had a purpose for him, his life took on new meaning. But after a long-term relationship ended in heartache, would he ever find someone to marry? Kanae experienced relationships based on superficial attraction, but she longed to find a mate with strong character and faith—a man who would be a godly husband and father. When Nick and Kanae met in the most amazing way, they realized that God—the ultimate Matchmaker-- had used even their discouraging and painful experiences to prepare them for each other…for the love of their life. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity Rebecca McLaughlin, 2021-03-09 Written by Rebecca McLaughlin, Author of Confronting Christianity In a world of increasing ideological diversity, kids are being challenged to think through their own beliefs at an early age. Questions like How can you believe the Bible is true?; Why can't we just agree that love is love?; and Isn't Christianity against diversity? can seem like roadblocks for kids who are following Jesus, as well as for those who might otherwise consider faith in Christ. In this helpful book—written both for Christian kids and for those who think Jesus is just a fairy tale character—Rebecca McLaughlin invites readers ages 12–15 to dig deep into hard questions for themselves and perhaps discover that the things that once looked like roadblocks to faith might actually be signposts. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: When God Says "Wait" Elizabeth Laing Thompson, 2017-03-01 A job, a true love, a baby, a cure. . . We’re all waiting for something from God. And the place between His answers can feel like a wasteland where dreams—and faith—go to die. When we’re waiting, we wonder, “Why?”, “Why me?”, and “How long?” But the truth? . . . When God says, “Wait,” He doesn’t tell us for how long. When God says, “Wait,” we face one of life’s greatest tests. When God says, “Wait,” we have decisions to make. When God says, “Wait,” we can control only two things: how we wait, and who we become along the way. Author Elizabeth Laing Thompson invites you to walk alongside people of the Bible who had to wait on God. . .imperfect heroes like David, Miriam, Naomi, Sarah, Joseph, and others. Their stories will provide a roadmap for your own story, helping you navigate the painful, lonely territory of waiting, coming out on the other side with your faith, relationships, and sense of humor intact. They might even help you learn to enjoy the ride. This book is about the journey of waiting, the space between answers, and the people we become while we live there. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Share Jesus Without Fear Linda Evans Shepherd, Bill Fay, William Fay, 1999 This inspirational tool encourages and enables Christians to share their faith with confidence and God-given assurance. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: The Sacred Search Gary Thomas, 2021-04-01 Bestselling author Gary Thomas transforms the way you look at romantic relationships. His unique perspective on dating will prepare you for a satisfying, spiritually enriching marriage. In the revised edition of his hit book The Sacred Search, Gary Thomas helps single people of all ages make wise marital choices by rethinking what basis those choices should be made on. You will be encouraged to think beyond finding your “soul mate” and instead adopt a more biblical search for a “sole mate”—someone who will walk with you on your spiritual journey. Thomas asks, What if we focused on why we should get married more than on who to marry? What if being “in love” isn’t a good enough reason to get married? And most of all, what if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy? The Sacred Search casts a vision for building a relationship around shared spiritual mission—and making marriage with eternity at its heart. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: 10 Questions Every Christian Must Answer Alex McFarland, Elmer L. Towns, 2011 Respected scholars provide thorough yet accessible answers to the deep spiritual questions that most often challenge one's faith and the ability to share it with others. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Marry Clayton King, Sharie King, 2011-08-01 Today, marriages have a 50 percent chance of lasting. Longing to improve those odds, pastor Clayton King, author of the popular Dying to Live, and his wife, Sharie, reveal a revolutionary biblical perspective—at the heart of a godly union is a heart of service. Love is more about understanding one’s spouse than being understood. Offering wisdom from God’s Word and beneficial advice from their decade of marriage, the Kings present 12 relationship-building questions for couples to ask before they wed. They guide and encourage couples to discuss their: religious backgrounds past relationships desires for family and future financial habits and goals vocational aspirations These questions reveal expectations and concerns and help each person understand the needs and hopes of their loved one. A great resource for churches, counselors, dating couples, and young men and women who dream of a forever marriage. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Christianity for People Who Aren't Christians James Emery White, 2019-11-05 I wish this book had been around when I was an atheist and started to seek God. It's a no-nonsense, practical, and insightful guide that will help all those on a quest for spiritual truth. If you're investigating whether there's any substance to the Christian faith, you must read this important book.--Lee Strobel, former award-winning legal editor of the Chicago Tribune and bestselling author of more than twenty books *** In our post-Christian age, the old answers for skeptics are no longer cutting it. Why? Because they largely seek to answer the wrong questions. Our world is changing, and while the gospel never changes, the way we talk about it and learn about it must. Christianity for People Who Aren't Christians answers both classic and bleeding-edge questions that skeptics have about the faith, such as - Is there a God? - Why do the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus matter? - Why is there so much suffering in the world? - Why do Christians think there is only one way to know God? - How do I reconcile the Bible's picture of Christ's followers with the actual Christians I know who have disappointed me? Covering such topics as astrophysics, social justice, and acceptance of the LGBTQ community, this one-of-a-kind book is perfect for those skeptical of Christianity and for those who love them and want to keep the line of communication open. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Messy Grace Caleb Kaltenbach, 2015-10-20 Sometimes, grace gets messy. Caleb Kaltenbach was raised by LGBT parents, marched in gay pride parades as a youngster, and experienced firsthand the hatred and bitterness of some Christians toward his family. But then Caleb surprised everyone, including himself, by becoming a Christian…and a pastor. Very few issues in Christianity are as divisive as the acceptance of the LGBT community in the church. As a pastor and as a person with beloved family members living a gay lifestyle, Caleb had to face this issue with courage and grace. Messy Grace shows us that Jesus’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself” doesn’t have an exception clause for a gay “neighbor”—or for that matter, any other “neighbor” we might find it hard to relate to. Jesus was able to love these people and yet still hold on to his beliefs. So can you. Even when it’s messy. “Messy Grace is an important contribution to the conversation about sexual identity for churches and leaders. Caleb's story is surprising and unique, and he weaves it together compellingly. He states his views clearly, leaves room for disagreement, and champions love no matter where you are in this conversation.” —Jud Wilhite, Sr. Pastor, Central Christian Church |
deep christian questions to ask friends: All the Feels for Teens Elizabeth Laing Thompson, 2021-10-05 “Part workbook, part self-help guide, part Bible study, this handbook is geared toward those who experience big feelings and could use some support navigating the challenges that come with this territory. . . . Overwhelmed teens can find validation in this faith-based guide.” —Kirkus Reviews No one knows about having all the feels quite like teenage girls—but few girls know what to do with all those feelings. They can flit from giddy to anxious to insecure to in love—oops, wait, just kidding, out of love—to chill to stressed to ecstatic to despairing to rebellious to penitent to cynical to naïve to independent to clingy to selfish to selfless, all with a heaping side order of angst and adorkability, all in a span of hours . . . sometimes minutes. In other words: all the feels all the time. Christian teens need Bible-based help to show them that it’s okay to feel deeply (after all, God himself is the Author of all feelings), but each of us must learn to train our emotions in the ways of Christ. As they learn how to deal with all the feels, girls need scriptural foundations, practical strategies, and the assurance that they are not weird—and never alone. Includes: Quizzes and interactive charts Journal questions Prayer prompts Scripture lists for different needs Discussion starters for mothers and daughters or mentors and mentees looking to learn together All the Feels for Teens pairs great with All the Feels, a book designed for adult women. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: How Did God Do It? A Symphony of Science and Scripture Walt Huber, Rose Huber, 2013-12 Have you ever wondered... How Did God Do It? How did God perform the many miracles and supernatural events described in the Holy Bible - without violating the laws of physics and chemistry that He Himself put into place? And without conflicting with the basic tenets of Judaism and Christianity? This book proposes a theory that marries faith and rationality in a symphony of science and scripture.... |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Fierce Marriage Ryan Frederick, Selena Frederick, 2018-04-17 Ryan and Selena Frederick were newlyweds when they landed in Switzerland to pursue Selena's dream of training horses. Neither of them knew at the time that Ryan was living out a death sentence brought on by a worsening genetic heart defect. Soon it became clear he needed major surgery that could either save his life--or result in his death on the operating table. The young couple prepared for the worst. When Ryan survived, they both realized that they still had a future together. But the near loss changed the way they saw all that would lie ahead. They would live and love fiercely, fighting for each other and for a Christ-centered marriage, every step of the way. Fierce Marriage is their story, but more than that, it is a call for married couples to put God first in their relationship, to measure everything they do and say to each other against what Christ did for them, and to see marriage not just as a relationship they should try to keep healthy but also as one worth fighting for in every situation. With the gospel as their foundation, Ryan and Selena offer hope and practical help for common struggles in marriage, including communication problems, sexual frustration, financial stress, family tension, screen-time disconnection, and unrealistic expectations. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: God Is Just Not Fair Jennifer Rothschild, 2014-03-25 This is a book I'll be recommending for years to come. -- Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author Do you believe God is just not fair? If you're like Jennifer Rothschild, you wrestle with questions when you experience painful circumstances. Does God care? Does he hear my prayers? Is he even there? Blinded as a teenager, Jennifer overcame daunting obstacles, found strength in God, and launched a successful speaking and writing ministry. Then in her 40s, everything changed. Jennifer hit a wall of depression and discontent that shook her to her core, undermining many of her past assumptions about her faith. She wondered who God was and why he continued to allow her to struggle and doubt. Where, she pleaded, is his hand of healing and hope in my life now? This is a book about finding more than just answers. It's for anyone who needs hope when life doesn't make sense--for all who reach for a God who feels distant. As Jennifer tackles the six big questions of faith, she will help you: Trust God more than your feelings. Strengthen your faith when you feel beat up by life. Embrace your obstacles and start experiencing their purpose. Face your disappointment and grow stronger from your loss. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Everyday Disciples Chris Wilterdink, 2016-07-01 Everyday Disciples: Covenant Discipleship with Youth by Chris Wilterdink resources pastors, youth leaders, and youth groups with information and planning materials related to Covenant Discipleship and accountability practices. Covenant Discipleship encourages youth to connect with Christ and one another through mutual accountability. It also encourages a networked support structure for living in the world as Christ followers. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Churchless George Barna, David Kinnaman, 2014-09-19 Churchless people are all around us: among our closest loved ones, at our workplaces, in our neighborhoods. And more and more, they are becoming the norm: The number of churchless adults in the US has grown by nearly one-third in the past decade. Yet the startling truth is that many of these people claim they are looking for a genuine, powerful encounter with God—but they just don’t find it in church. What are they (or we) missing? How can we better reach out to them? What can we say or do that would inspire them to want to join a community of faith? Containing groundbreaking new research from the Barna Group, and edited by bestselling authors George Barna (Revolution) and David Kinnaman (You Lost Me), Churchless reveals the results of a five-year study based on interviews with thousands of churchless men and women. Looking past the surface of church attendance to deeper spiritual realities, Churchless will help us understand those who choose not to be part of a church, build trust-based relationships with them, and be empowered to successfully invite them to engage. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: She Reads Truth Raechel Myers, Amanda Bible Williams, 2016-10-04 Born out of the experiences of hundreds of thousands of women who Raechel and Amanda have walked alongside as they walk with the Lord, She Reads Truth is the message that will help you understand the place of God's Word in your life. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Character Matters Aaron Menikoff, 2020-05-05 Pastor, it’s time to turn down the noise and focus on what matters. Today’s pastoral world is packed with books, conferences, and seminars teaching you different techniques for being an all-star pastor, growing your church quickly, and changing the world. But the key to true success is much harder and much simpler. Pastors are called to be faithful, to have exemplary character, and to love Jesus. Without faithfulness, their ministry ends up harming others rather than helping them. Churches need pastors with sound doctrine and a sound life. Character Matters was written to help you slow down, cut through the noise and distractions, and focus on what matters—the fruit of the Spirit. Each chapter is a guided, biblical meditation on one aspect of each piece of the fruit of the Spirit. As you reflect and focus on the simple things that matter, you’ll see your heart change and your ministry follow, slowly, surely, and by the power of the Spirit. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Questioning Christianity Dan Paterson, Rian Roux, 2021-06-02 Have you ever seriously questioned Christianity? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of people have wondered if this faith is outdated . . . irrelevant . . . maybe even harmful. But what if everything is not as it seems? What if there’s more to the story? Questioning Christianity explores the nature and relevance of the Christian story in an accessible and compelling way. No slogans. No politics. No simple solutions to complex problems. After many years of exploring issues of faith with skeptics, seekers, and new believers, Dan Paterson and Rian Roux serve as guides to help you navigate what can be a disorienting and confusing journey. Perhaps you’re feeling lost, unable to find your bearings, and you need some help to map out the terrain around you. Or maybe you’ve encountered obstacles and have hard questions that need to be addressed before you can move ahead. Whatever it is that has made you curious about this faith, there are good answers waiting to be discovered. So go ahead. Question Christianity. Just give Christianity the chance to answer back. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Introduction to World Christian History Derek Cooper, 2016-06-03 In this brief history of the church from a global perspective, Derek Cooper explores the development of Christianity across time and the continents. Guiding readers to places like Iraq, Ethiopia and India, Scandanavia, Brazil and Oceania, he reveals the fascinating—and often surprising—history of the church. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: I Once Was Lost Don Everts, Doug Schaupp, 2009-08-20 Don Everts and Doug Schaupp tell the stories of postmodern people who have come to follow Jesus. They describe the factors that influence how people shift in their perspectives and become open to the Gospel. They provide practical tools to help people enter the kingdom, as well as guidelines for how new believers can live out their Christian faith. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Biblical Spirituality Christopher W. Morgan, 2019-06-24 What is spirituality? For some, it means nothing more than vague self-improvement pulled from the latest best-selling self-help book. For others, it refers to some generic religious practice. Shedding life-giving light on what often remains ill-defined and unclear, this book sets forth a vision of biblical spirituality—“a renewed sense of the momentousness of being alive in God’s world as God’s people are led by God’s Spirit through God’s Word unto godly, Christlike character.” With careful exegetical work and theological reflection, the contributors—pastors and scholars such as Christopher W. Morgan, Paul R. House, Nathan A. Finn, and Gregg R. Allison—address spirituality from the perspective of the Bible, exploring topics such as the Trinity, divine sovereignty and human responsibility, the “already” and “not yet,” and the church. This book also addresses practical questions about spirituality related to the workplace, disciplines of the body, and more. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: You Are What You Love James K. A. Smith, 2016-03-29 You are what you love. But you might not love what you think. In this book, award-winning author James K. A. Smith shows that who and what we worship fundamentally shape our hearts. And while we desire to shape culture, we are not often aware of how culture shapes us. We might not realize the ways our hearts are being taught to love rival gods instead of the One for whom we were made. Smith helps readers recognize the formative power of culture and the transformative possibilities of Christian practices. He explains that worship is the imagination station that incubates our loves and longings so that our cultural endeavors are indexed toward God and his kingdom. This is why the church and worshiping in a local community of believers should be the hub and heart of Christian formation and discipleship. Following the publication of his influential work Desiring the Kingdom, Smith received numerous requests from pastors and leaders for a more accessible version of that book's content. No mere abridgment, this new book draws on years of Smith's popular presentations on the ideas in Desiring the Kingdom to offer a fresh, bottom-up rearticulation. The author creatively uses film, literature, and music illustrations to engage readers and includes new material on marriage, family, youth ministry, and faith and work. He also suggests individual and communal practices for shaping the Christian life. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Am I Really a Christian? (Foreword by Kirk Cameron) Mike McKinley, 2011-06-07 Jesus divided the world into two groups—those who follow him and those who don't. But what happens when someone thinks he or she is a Christian, but isn't? With his witty, engaging style, Mike McKinley takes readers on a journey of what it means to be a Christian. He asserts that manipulative evangelism techniques and a poor understanding of the gospel have resulted in an abundance of professing Christians who have no idea what it means to follow Christ. Each chapter title begins with You're not a Christian [if/when/just because you]... As he surveys what it means to be Christian, McKinley offers criteria for evaluating one's standing before God. Readers are guided through a series of challenges to reflect, repent, remember, and report to another person. Am I Really a Christian? ends with chapters on salvation and the local church. This unique book is written for nominal or new Christians and can be used in personal or small-group study. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With? Sam Allberry, 2020-03 Answers one of the biggest barriers to belief. Christians are increasingly seen as outdated, restrictive and judgmental when it comes to sex before marriage, cohabitation and homosexuality. In fact for many people, this issue is one of the biggest barriers for them considering Christianity. Sam Allberry, author of many books including Is God Anti-gay sets out God's good design for the expression of human sexuality, showing that God himself is love and that only he can satisfy our deepest desires. It is a great reminder of the Bible's positive blueprint for love, sex and marriage and ideal for giving away to people who may see this as a stumbling block for belief. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: The Common Rule Justin Whitmel Earley, 2023-03-14 Habits form us more than we form them. Though we yearn for the freedom of the gospel, we remain anxious people shackled by our screens and exhausted by our routines. The answer is a rule of life that aligns our habits with our beliefs. Justin Earley provides doable, life-giving practices to find freedom and rest for your soul. |
deep christian questions to ask friends: Gospel Principles The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1997 A Study Guide and a Teacher’s Manual Gospel Principles was written both as a personal study guide and as a teacher’s manual. As you study it, seeking the Spirit of the Lord, you can grow in your understanding and testimony of God the Father, Jesus Christand His Atonement, and the Restoration of the gospel. You can find answers to life’s questions, gain an assurance of your purpose and self-worth, and face personal and family challenges with faith. |
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DeepSeek | 深度求索
深度求索(DeepSeek),成立于2023年,专注于研究世界领先的通用人工智能底层模型与技术,挑战人工智能前沿性难题。 基于自研训练框架、自建智算集群和万卡算力等资源,深度求 …
DEEP Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of DEEP is extending far from some surface or area. How to use deep in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Deep.
DEEP definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
If you describe someone as deep, you mean that they are quiet and reserved in a way that makes you think that they have good qualities such as intelligence or determination.
DeepL features to help elevate your language
Whether crafting an email, translating a document, or re-writing a text, clear and effective communication is paramount. DeepL is your go-to solution to all language-centric …
Deep - definition of deep by The Free Dictionary
Coming from or penetrating to a depth: a deep sigh. g. Sports Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play: deep left field. 2. Extending a specific distance in a given …
What does DEEP mean? - Definitions.net
Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious. That is a deep thought! To a significant, not superficial, extent. In extent in a direction away from the …
DeepL Translator - Wikipedia
DeepL Translator is a neural machine translation service that was launched in August 2017 and is owned by Cologne -based DeepL SE. The translating system was first developed within …
DEEP | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
DEEP meaning: 1. going or being a long way down from the top or surface, or being of a particular distance from…. Learn more.
DEEP Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
in difficult or serious circumstances; in trouble.in a situation beyond the range of one's capability or skill:You're a good student, but you'll be in deep water in medical school.
DeepL Translate: The world's most accurate translator
Translate texts & full document files instantly. Accurate translations for individuals and Teams. Millions translate with DeepL every day.
DeepSeek | 深度求索
深度求索(DeepSeek),成立于2023年,专注于研究世界领先的通用人工智能底层模型与技术,挑战人工智能前沿性难题。 基于自研训练框架、自建智算集群和万卡算力等资源,深度求 …
DEEP Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of DEEP is extending far from some surface or area. How to use deep in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Deep.
DEEP definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
If you describe someone as deep, you mean that they are quiet and reserved in a way that makes you think that they have good qualities such as intelligence or determination.
DeepL features to help elevate your language
Whether crafting an email, translating a document, or re-writing a text, clear and effective communication is paramount. DeepL is your go-to solution to all language-centric …
Deep - definition of deep by The Free Dictionary
Coming from or penetrating to a depth: a deep sigh. g. Sports Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play: deep left field. 2. Extending a specific distance in a given …
What does DEEP mean? - Definitions.net
Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious. That is a deep thought! To a significant, not superficial, extent. In extent in a direction away from the …
DeepL Translator - Wikipedia
DeepL Translator is a neural machine translation service that was launched in August 2017 and is owned by Cologne -based DeepL SE. The translating system was first developed within …
DEEP | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
DEEP meaning: 1. going or being a long way down from the top or surface, or being of a particular distance from…. Learn more.
DEEP Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
in difficult or serious circumstances; in trouble.in a situation beyond the range of one's capability or skill:You're a good student, but you'll be in deep water in medical school.