First Ministry

Rev. Dr. Stephen De Young, creator of the popular The Whole Counsel of God blog and podcast, traces the lineage of Orthodox Christianity back to the faith and witness of the apostles, which was rooted in a first-century Jewish worldview. The Religion of the Apostles presents the Orthodox Christian Church of today as a continuation of the religious life of the apostles, which in turn was a continuation of the life of the people of God since the beginning of creation.

Are You Spiritually Gifted—But Still Spiritually Blind? You were created to see what others cannot, to discern what is hidden, and to interpret what Heaven is saying. But if your spiritual eyes remain shut, your destiny may be delayed, hijacked, or misinterpreted. Imagine walking through life blindfolded while carrying a divine compass you’ve never learned to use. This book changes everything. Many believers feel the call to the prophetic, but they struggle with cloudy vision, confusing impressions, and misread signs. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is what I saw from God or my ...

In this groundbreaking study, Cheryl Bear-Barnetson presents an approach to First Nations ministry from the foundations of indigenous worldview and values. She begins with an overview of First Nations theology, which includes the Native views of Creator, the Holy Spirit, the Incarnation, a theology of land, and a theology of missions. Various Native practices, traditional gatherings, and ceremonies are also described. Bear-Barnetson argues that leaders who are more fully informed about Native beliefs, values, and practices will see a dramatic increase in their effectiveness in ministering ...

From the Encyclopedia Britannica: 1 John - The First Letter of John was apparently addressed to a group of churches where “false prophets", denounced as antichrist, denied the incarnation of Jesus and caused a secession so substantial that the orthodox remnant was sadly depleted. The faithful were deeply disturbed that the heresy found favour among pagans, and they apparently felt inferior because those who had left their midst claimed to have profound mystical experiences. The heretics asserted that they possessed perfection, were “born of God”, and were without sin.

The New Book of Christian Martyrs commemorates those modern-day heroes. In this update to Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Johnnie Moore and Jerry Pattengale highlight key martyrs of past centuries and feature stories of contemporary martyrs around the world. Through tears, Johnnie and Jerry offer this compendium of heroes from the first century to the twenty-first century, from Europe to Africa and from Asia to the Americas, to inspire Christians around the globe.

Bloomsbury presents The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart, read by Tosca Hopkins. The inspiration for the documentary God & Country For readers of Democracy in Chains and Dark Money, a revelatory investigation of the Religious Right’s rise to political power. For too long the Religious...

In this book, Justin Martyr boldly defends the Christian faith before the Roman government. He addresses the core beliefs of the early church and refutes the lies spread abroad about them. A truly inspirational piece of literature that should not disappoint the hungry soul looking for pure doctrine and teaching. He truly was a man of God that held great understanding of godly virtue and wisdom. May you be abundantly blessed as you partake in this book!

First Prize - International Firebird Book Awards for both Cli-Fi and Best Unconventional Love Story! Literary Titan Gold Book Award and Bookview Review Gold Badge Award! "offers far more than a typical science fiction adventure" "masterfully weaves sci-fi action with political satire" Is Earth ready for an extraterrestrial visitor warning about a climate catastrophe? Dee didn't plan to become the world's most wanted illegal alien. He just wanted to save a dying planet. A cyborg ANT from Bilaluna, Dee crash-lands in a Mexican cenote and embarks on an epic road trip from the Yucatan to the ...

Ever wondered if there were more writings from the first few centuries by Christians? Well the answer is - yes! There is much that the early Christians left us and they are available in this day and time. The New Testament is our rock to stand upon, but there are other works that we can glean from that are filled with godly wisdom and virtue. The 1st Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians is just that kind of work that can further your walk with Christ in this present day.

The First and Second Books of Adam and Eve make up an apocryphal story, written in a midrash style, detailing the time from the planting of the Garden of Eden and creation of Adam to the time of Enoch. For those interested in angels and demons and the dialogue and tactics of Satan in his quest to destroy mankind, this book will be of special value. For serious students of religion and religious history, this book is a must-have.

From a Biblical perspective of our human nature, we are "spirit and soul and body" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Understanding each dimension of our being and how each is to relate to the others, according to God's created order, is a strategic key of the Kingdom of God. Come take hold of this key that will revolutionize and revitalize your spiritual journey! Our human spirit should abide in deep communion with God’s Holy Spirit. Then our human spirit—infused and led by the Holy Spirit—should direct the mind, will, and emotions of our human soul, which should manifest in the health and well...

In the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses 11 problems, in two categories. In the Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Witness Lee helps us see that Christ is the unique factor to solve the first six problems, and that the church is the unique factor to solve the final five problems.

Gregory the Great (bishop of Rome from 590 to 604) is one of the most significant figures in the history of Christianity. His theological works framed medieval Christian attitudes toward mysticism, exegesis, and the role of the saints in the life of the church. The scale of Gregory's administrative activity in both the ecclesial and civic affairs of Rome also helped to make possible the formation of the medieval papacy.

Discover the untold story of the New Testament’s most reluctant hero. Caught between his Greek father’s world and his Jewish mother’s faith, young Timothy never expected to become one of early Christianity’s most trusted leaders. When the apostle Paul arrives in Lystra, everything changes. Follow Timothy’s extraordinary journey from uncertain teenager to Paul’s most beloved disciple. From dangerous missionary journeys to confronting false teachers, watch as this unlikely hero overcomes his fears to help spread the gospel across the Roman Empire. “Timothy: Paul’s Son in ...

Serving in pastoral ministry is a wonderful privilege. It's also a major challenge and a complicated task, even for those convinced they've been called to the profession. Many young pastors confess that the responsibilities they inherit when assuming the role feel overwhelming. Leading a church is a form of ministry that can stretch and test the strongest of personalities. In this book, 11 seasoned pastors share formative stories from their early years of church leadership, along with valuable counsel on important subjects like; marriage, parenting, personal finances, handling ...

This is a heartfelt book. I accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in 1977. I answered Jesus’ call to ministry in 1980. So, I have been in ministry for many years. And being in ministry I am familiar with the unique issues people go through who serve the Lord. I have been the pastor of two churches during this time. I pastored in a denomination and a nondenominational church. The church I have served in since 1993 is a church the Lord used me to plant. For the first 17 years or so, I was bi-vocational; the Lord provided for my family and I through various jobs and eventually in a ...

The argument about women in ministry is not a modern argument. It is two thousand years old. And the record is more complicated than either side usually admits. Jim Stovall is a journalist, not a theologian. When a retired Baptist minister and lifelong friend suggested this subject for the I'm No Expert, But series, Stovall did what journalists do: he went looking for what the record actually shows. What he found surprised him. The earliest Christian documents name women as deacons, apostles, and teachers. The restriction on women in ordained ministry developed over centuries, shaped by ...

Why don't Christians in the church today keep the biblical sabbath? Was the observance of the seventh-day sabbath done away with, canceled, changed, replaced, fulfilled, made obsolete, suppressed, hijacked, or simply forgotten? Even if you already know the answers, you'll want to listen to this book. From Sabbath to Sabbath approaches the question of the sabbath from a completely new messianic Jewish perspective.

The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ, also commonly referred to as The Infancy Gospel of Thomas (not to be confused with the apocryphal book simply called the Gospel of Thomas), dates to AD 185 and tells stories of the early events in the life of Christ, including miracles; although, also included are stories depicting the childhood Jesus behaving less sacredly than one might expect, which may be exactly the reason why the infancy gospels were never considered canon by the Church.

This two-part book was compiled and edited by Mary Baker Eddy, the church’s founder. Part I (“The First Church of Christ, Scientist”) describes the building of The Mother Church Extension in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1906. Writings by Mary Baker Eddy and newspaper articles from across North America detail this significant architectural achievement and the rapid growth of Christian Science as a movement.