Ministry Resources CBA Winner

When you consider theology, you may think of confusing, lofty terminology that only concerns scholars and pastors. But in reality, theology is for anyone who wants to better understand God and learn more about the Bible. Theology—the study of God and his word—should be personal, accessible, and worshipful. 

Pastor Jon Nielson has written Knowing God’s Truth, a part of the Theology Basics suite, to make systematic theology clear, meaningful, and practical for those looking for a highly accessible guide to studying God. In this introduction, Nielson defines systematic theology as “theological study done in a highly organized, topical way” and covers the 12 basic categories—Scripture, man, sin, church, and more. He also helps readers learn to apply theology in their everyday lives by integrating invitations to pray and meditate on what they’ve learned.

40 Questions About Women in Ministry charts a course for understanding differing views on the topic. The accessible question-and-answer format guides readers to specific areas of confusion, and authors Sue Edwards and Kelley Mathews cover interpretive, theological, historical, and practical matters such as:

• What terms best describe the various views on women in ministry?
• What did God mean that the woman was man's "helper corresponding to him"?
• How is it that Bible-believing Christians reach vastly different conclusions about 1 Timothy 2:11-15?
• How did Western culture influence the role of women in society and the church?

With all the hostility boiling just under the surface of our world, we need a renewed vision of Jesus as the Lamb of God who can lead us in the peaceable ways of the Kingdom. When we fail to keep Jesus at the center of our lives, we lean into the desires of our hearts more than the desires God has for us. As a result, our entire spirituality becomes driven by the self and for the self. We need renewed practices of centering Jesus in our hearts and minds.
In Centering Jesus, Derek Vreeland invites you to imagine what it looks like to keep Jesus as the Lamb of God at the center of three key areas of our lives—our spiritual formation, our moral lives, and our common life together. With the deep divide in American culture and the polarization that continues to grow, we need a renewed focus on the Lamb so that we might blaze a path forward into civility and kindness.

Learn how to

• identify the problems that occur when Jesus is obscured from our view;
• walk through some of the key biblical descriptions of the Lamb;
• describe a Lamb-shaped and Jesus-centered approach to the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love, the foundation of our moral lives; and
• experience the Lamb at the center of common life together, specifically worship life, participation in acts of justice, and political life.

Living a balanced life of work and rest often feels elusive in our culture, especially for pastors carrying the heavy weight of nonstop responsibility. The meaning of sabbath practice is the answer for both the community and its leaders---a gift given to us by a loving God! Includes conversation guide for small groups. 192 pages, hardcover from InterVarsity.

In The Weary Leader's Guide to Burnout, Sean Nemecek takes Christian leaders on a journey from burnout through recovery and on to spiritual transformation. By understanding the causes and symptoms of their burnout, these leaders will be ready to take practical, actionable steps toward wholeness. Then, if they choose, they will be poised to do the inner work of spiritual transformation by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the end, these leaders will emerge from burnout more confident in Christ, more connected with others, and with greater purpose, courage, and grace in their leadership.