Church Problems

Are churches looking for the wrong kind of leaders? The last decade has witnessed a rising number of churches wrecked by spiritual abuse--harsh, heavy-handed, domineering behavior from those in a position of spiritual authority. And high-profile cases are only a small portion of this widespread...

Paul's two inspired letters to the church at Corinth are explored in this commentary, which studies the text in detail, on a verse-by-verse basis. Both beginners and well-studied readers of the Word of God can find value in this helpful companion to two of the Apostle's great inspired works.

In times of questioning and despair, people often quote the Bible to provide answers. Surprisingly, though, the Bible does not have one answer but many ""answers"" that often contradict one another. Consider these competing explanations for suffering put forth by various biblical writers: The...

Satan's transformation from opaque functionary to chief antagonist is one of the most striking features of the development of Jewish theology in the Second Temple Period and beyond. Once no more than an "accuser" testing members of the human community, Satan, along with his demons, is presented by Jewish apocalyptic texts and the New Testament as a main source of evil in the world. In Satan and the Problem of Evil, noted scholar Archie Wright explores this dynamic in both its historical and theological trajectories.

Clean Up on Aisle 7 is a straight-talking, hope-filled guide for pastors and ministry leaders who are navigating the messy realities of church life. Written by seasoned pastors Rev. Michael Page and Rev. David Ralph, this book draws from decades of experience shepherding churches of all sizes — and from their shared passion through Shepherds Hope Ministries to encourage pastors who are in the trenches today. With humor, grace, and practical wisdom, Michael and Dave pull back the curtain on the kinds of conflicts, tensions, and leadership challenges that many pastors never learned about in...

As America begins to come to terms with the costs of White privilege to Black lives, this book urges a soul-searching examination of the role American Christianity has played in sustaining everyday white supremacy by assuring White people of their innocence. In Mormonism and White Supremacy, Joanna Brooks offers an unflinching look at her own people's history and culture and finds in them lessons that will hit home for every scholar of American religion and person of faith.

The forces behind an economic crisis in the making A “problem of twelve” arises when a small number of institutions acquire the means to exert outsized influence over the politics and economy of a nation. The Big Three index funds of Vanguard, State Street, and BlackRock control more than...

In this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Reverend Curtis Black series, Curtis's secret past returns in an unwelcome--but ultimately healing--visit. Rev. Curtis Black is no stranger to scandal. Throughout the decades, he has done much in the public eye, both good and evil. But what most...

Terrorism. Same-sex marriage. Debt cancellation. The AIDS pandemic. These are just some of the critical contemporary issues addressed in this book. Issues Facing Christians Today helps thinking Christians sift through and respond to a sweeping array of complex and pressing topics. Thoroughly...

Penny Baker is coping. Just about. Three kids, one dog, one lovely but sometimes oblivious husband. Tick, tick tick. She is even managing to hold her own among the competitive school mums - if you don't look too closely. But when she finds herself also caring for her elderly mother, diagnosed with dementia, the household is thrown into disarray and Penny finds herself stretched to breaking point trying to meet everyone's needs. Can she make the new family situation work? And is there any chance of finding some space in it all for herself?

Are you tired of churches that perform but do not transform? Discover The Kingdom-Driven Church—a revolutionary Christian leadership book that reveals how the Church can reclaim its influence, disciple nations, and become the solution the world desperately needs. In this bold and prophetic call to action, Dameyan Cole challenges traditional church models and unveils a powerful framework for kingdom leadership, city transformation, and purpose-driven discipleship. This book is not just about church growth—it is about kingdom impact. It is a roadmap for building churches that go beyond ...

Lorenzo Lebrija, director of TryTank, a lab for church growth and innovation, has developed a fresh straightforward framework for experiments in new ministry based on research and interviews. With three clear steps, this framework can have a lasting impact on any church that uses it. You can even start innovating today, using this specific and actionable process within your church community.

Jesus calls us to make disciples of all the nations. Many Christians believe this means enlisting soldiers in a culture war. But putting faith in the service of politics risks remaking God in our own image. How can the church help bring God's kingdom to earth without relying on the political structures of this world? Critiquing our idolization of the values of classical Western liberalism, Steven Félix-Jäger seeks a renewal of the church's public witness.

When Father Bredder gets involved with murder—Heaven only knows what will happen next… When Father Bredder was persuaded to attend a concert by a string quartet, he expected an evening without much excitement. But when the first violinist dies of an apparent heart attack, Father Bredder can’t help but take note. As he conducts his investigation, he uncovers a history of murder and revenge dating back to World War II, all intermeshed with the story of an old and valuable violin. Named “A Red Badge Novel of Suspense” alongside Agatha Christie, Michael Innes, and Hugh Pentecost, The ...

The Word ‘tsumi’: A Japanese Problem in Translating and Understanding. (Series. Bridges ‘Me a criminal? No way!’ This shocking reply is at the core of this unique book—unique, because there is no other English book on the subject of tsumi , and its alternates and its unfortunate meaning of criminally guilty in Japanese. Unfortunately, it does not encompass the meaning of sin against God. Four hundred years have passed, and this deplorable translation is still used in Japanese churches today. These are some of the topics that are covered in this informative book: How Japanese ...

The Church is simply a group of saved sinners, and because of this we face a variety of issues. How do we deal with them? Focusing on the letter of 1 Corinthians, Pastor Skip Heitzig discusses Church divisions, sexual impurity, marriage difficulties, personal liberties, and other problems in the body of Christ and looks at what God's word says about resolving them.

Reader, There is hardly any subject in religion which is so much misunderstood as the subject of the “Church.” There is probably no misunderstanding which has done more harm to professing Chris-tians than the misunderstanding of this subject. There is hardly any word which is used in such a variety of meanings, as the word “Church.” It is a word that we hear constantly used, and yet we cannot help observing that different people use it in different senses. The English politician in our days talks of “the Church.” What does he mean? You will generally find he means the Episcopal ...

Mandy Kirkpatrick, once a celebrated artist, grapples with the requirements of an overwhelmed husband, three out-of-control children, and a demanding congregation. She attempts to meet the expectations of each person, but as the stress of her family and the congregation weigh heavily upon her, all Mandy wants to do is return to her life as an artist. Amidst the chaos of her family and the pressures of the church, Amanda reads a book which sends her on a journey of self-discovery. Fueled by her newfound understanding of motivational gifts, she seeks to speak to her husband in an attempt to ...

Have you ever struggled when someone challenges your faith in God? Maybe you don't know what to say, or you don't understand their objections--or maybe you just aren't as prepared as you want to be. This book is designed just for you! Using his own personal studies with others, as well as sharing expert testimony from others, Mark Tabata wants to help you become a great defender of the truth that God exists! Brought to you by your friends at Cobb Publishing

This book is the second of a series that examines the Holy Spirit inspired biblical metaphors that God has used in his Word to describe the nature, purpose and function of his church. If you believe as I do, that God conceived and created the church then I think you would agree with me when I say that no one but God has the right to define what the church is. The church is neither what I nor what you think it is but what God says it is. God has amply defined throughout the Scriptures what the church is. Jesus said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against ...