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The apostle John shares with us his main goal: "...that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). John states that Jesus is the son of God whom the Father sent to us to accomplish something no one else could. Follow John as he prepares the way for the one who is the only way to eternal life.

With dramatic, vivid detail, the poetic masterpiece of Nahum shows that God refuses to abandon his rebellious people when they stray into destructive paths, instead responding to spiritual adultery with love and power. The application to our own lives may hit close to home, but there is also abundant Gospel hope: Jesus' severe compassion leads him to relentlessly pursue his people for their salvation.

This issue of Christian History explores what life was like for many different types of Christians in the Middle Ages.

Times of crisis call for revolutionary leadership. What better model could we have for courage and creativity under fire than those who found themselves in positions of leadership during the American Revolutionary War? Now Pat Williams helps you apply their genius to your sphere of influence. Through the remarkable stories of more than 25 leaders of the American Revolution, you'll discover fresh insight into how great leaders are formed, refined, tested, and strengthened.

The Church has always been in danger of “secret agents” who gain entry into the Christian community and thwart the Gospel, consequently leading believers astray. We see this in Jude’s letter as he tackles the same issues Peter did in his second letter. Unfortunately, believers in the Church are using God’s grace as a ticket to sin freely. The author insists that Christians must defend the true Gospel aggressively for the sake of the church’s well-being.

Much like the wisdom literature in the OT, James offers snippets of wisdom to Christians. The practical instruction he gives serves to motivate believers to be doers not just hearers of the word. His audience, Jewish Christians, is in the midst of social conflict in which they are seeking worldly advice instead of pursuing God's way. James' letter should inspire Christians today to seek divine wisdom in all situations while translating one's faith into practice.

Quite simply, three of the most important and well-known confessions of the Reformed faith. The Augsburg Confession is the earliest of the three and is the primary confession of the Lutheran Church. The Heidelberg Catechism was a response written by Zacharias Ursinus and consists of 129 questions and answers. The Westminster Confession is the best known and begins with "What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever."

We are surrounded by the temptation to glorify ourselves. We post carefully curated selfies on Instagram, chase money and pleasure, and live the "image is everything" lifestyle. We've created a culture of envy, emptiness, and depression. Even the church has bought into worldly values of wealth and status. God put us on this earth not to seek our own glory but to shine the light of his glory on a dying world. Through the life of Moses, pastor and author Michael Youssef shows us how to store up treasure that lasts by living for God's glory.

There is a road to life in the unshakable kingdom of God, but it's not an easy journey. In The Magnificent Journey, the author shows us the better road, the road less traveled, but the road full of riches. Along the way, he introduces us to new spiritual practices that will provide the sustenance we need for the deepest, most joy-filled journey of our lives - the journey into the heart of God.

In this issue of Christian History magazine the editors bring together a collection of articles that explore the depth of C. S. Lewis' robust personality. His loves, his contribution to analysis of historical literature, his friends, and his deep theological thought are all brought to light.

It is not too often one can read or listen to a 2,600-year-old book and know that it still has relevance and importance today. The Art of War has long been considered not only a military classic, but a classic book in general. Sun Tzu’s treatise on various aspects and components of wartime strategy is highly recommended for insight into the Eastern mindset and military planning. It also can apply to business, legal, and educational situations as well.

It started with a question: is Christ’s call in Matthew 28, to make disciples of all the world, for all Christians for all time? In 1792, William Carey had noticed that his contemporaries no longer sought to share the gospel with the same zeal as the new believers of the early church. In The Enquiry, he counters this apathy with a theological justification for missions, a history of missionary activity and a survey of the world. He then turns to persuasion, arguing against common objections to sending missionaries and convincing his readers that a missionary society should be formed.

The Israelites are becoming a unified nation under a king. The first two kings, Saul and David, are anointed by Samuel. Take a look into the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David as they experience struggles and reveal the many faults of the human condition, giving us a picture of our own humanity.

“God is light.” This means we can always count on him to overcome evil with good. Having assurance of our salvation in Christ equips us to stand firm in the face of evil. This letter points Christians back to the Gospel. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” It encourages believers to live obedient lives in light of the salvation they have in Christ.

Ever since the nation's most important secret meeting - the Constitutional Convention - presidents have struggled to balance open, accountable government with necessary secrecy in military affairs and negotiations. For the first 120 years, a culture of open government persisted, but new threats and technology have long since shattered the old bargains. Today, presidents neither protect vital information nor provide the open debate Americans expect.

John writes to a believer named Gaius urging him to continue walking in truth and love. Along with general instruction for Church leaders, the apostle warns about those who oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ, specifically warning Gaius about a man named Diotrephes. An individual with selfish ambition that is never satisfied, Diotrephese is no different from much of the opposition we face today. Listen to John as he addresses this in his godly wisdom.

God is faithful and always keeps his promises. In 1 Chronicles, God's promise to David is fulfilled when David becomes king over all of Israel. The genealogies in this book remind us that every one of God's children plays a role in his redemption plan. We can rest assured that we are each playing a vital role in this plan as well.

The day of the Lord is coming. This means total destruction of creation. Zephaniah’s message of judgment on all nations is not complete without his message of hope. God will vindicate the righteous, and he blesses those who repent and trust in him. Listen to the prophet Zephaniah, and be encouraged as we too wait for the final redemption in Christ’s second coming.

The prophet Micah scolds Israel and Judah for their idolatry and injustice to the poor. The Assyrians are about to invade, and the two Jewish nations will have to suffer for their sinfulness. Thankfully God's judgment is seasoned with mercy, and he will not break the covenant with his people. Watch as God comes through to preserve "the remnant of Israel" (Micah 2:12) despite their faithlessness.

Many Christians are fearful of engaging in conversation with atheists - believing that they will be hostile to Christian beliefs and conversations about the Bible. This short book is designed to help both Christians and whole churches understand more about the questions and issues that atheists of various kinds have about Christian faith, and to reach out to them with the good news of the Gospel.