Словари
Различные книги в жанре СловариEvaluating Models of Christian Counseling
Initially developed as a classroom resource, Evaluating Models of Christian Counseling serves as a primary example of the complexities involved in integrating psychology, theology, and spirituality into the counseling process. The would-be counselor and the experienced professional are each introduced to a systematic evaluation model for determining how effectively a specific Christian Counseling Program incorporates psychological, spiritual, and theological constructs into their milieu. After presenting a working definition of the counseling process and its relationship to psychology, theology, and spirituality, an application of the evaluation model to four Christian Counseling programs is demonstrated.
Being at Home in the World
Being at Home in the World is a book of Christian Apologetics. But Mark McLeod-Harrison and Phil Smith don't defend Christian faith; instead, they invite readers into faith. In the course of making this invitation, the authors raise suspicions against modern naturalism, offer respectful criticisms of major religions, and explain how Christian beliefs provide an organizing center of a flourishing human life. Their invitation to Christian faith is philosophically sophisticated, but it is also honest and personal; McLeod-Harrison and Smith tell their own stories of how they grew up as Christians and why they remain believers.
United and Uniting
The United Church of Christ was formed in 1957 to be first and foremost a proactive agent in the often tangled but nonetheless breathtaking ministry and mission of ecumenicity in the pursuit of ever greater visible unity among the diversity of Christian churches. This singular task of ecumenicity is arguably the most crucial in the formulation of an ecclesiology essential to the United Church of Christ as a «united and uniting» church; a mission Albert Walsh refers to in this book as her God given «vision-and-vocation.» In United and Uniting, Walsh contends that the identity and self-understanding of the UCC at both national and local levels is best comprehended as a «Christ-centered» and «conciliar» fellowship, and therefore her ecclesiology must be fundamentally ecumenical. A Christ-centered ecumenicity must shape, inform, and characterize the whole of her ecclesiology, and membership in the UCC is defined almost exclusively in terms of a «conciliar» identity. Walsh advocates a return to ecumenical formation at the level of the grassroots or membership in the local congregation as holding the greatest promise for furtherance of the wider ecumenical mission.
Self-Emptying of Christ and the Christian
This collection wrestles with a profusion of questions about kenosis. What is the original meaning and purpose of the self-emptying of Jesus? How can today's Christians emulate it, replacing our own selfish designs with the mind of Christ? How is the current interest in «servant leadership,» as a model in the modern church, related to the self-sacrificing servant of Philippians 2? Does this practice have any meaning in our present secular age? Does it imply deconstructing the content of Christian faith and morals in contemporary culture? Is it a possible bridge between Eastern and Western spiritual traditions?
Using the key theme of Jesus' emptying of himself in the Philippians hymn, John Lounibos explores the mysteries of kenosis in three strikingly different essays. The first, using extensive exegesis of the text, opens up the poetic, theological, and spiritual depths of this Christian mystery. The second essay establishes a philosophical grounding for kenosis in the work of Paul Tillich on the estrangements of finite human freedom. The third enters into dialogue with the Buddhist tradition and its intriguing notions of «nothingness» and «no-self.» The attentive reader will be rewarded with a wealth of information and insights for further reflection and personal application.
Immigrant Neighbors among Us
How do different Christian denominations in the United States approach immigration issues? In Immigrant Neighbors among Us, U.S. Hispanic scholars creatively mine the resources of their theological traditions to reflect on one of the most controversial issues of our day. Representative theologians from Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist/Wesleyan, Pentecostal, and Independent Evangelical church families show how biblical narratives, historical events, systematic frameworks, ethical principles, and models of ministry shape their traditions' perspectives on immigrant neighbors, law, and reform. Each chapter provides questions for dialogue.
Ordaining Women
B. T. Roberts saw the exclusion of women from ordination as analogous to racism. His ability to see the new community made possible by Christ offers Christians today a prophetic vision of the difference Christ makes. Roberts's 1891 Ordaining Women takes seriously the scriptural promise that Christ has unmasked the false distinctions and repaired the damaged social arrangements of this world. Like the abolition of slavery, the ordination of women becomes yet another obvious sign of the world made new in Christ. With careful attention to biblical interpretation, church tradition, and empirical evidence, Roberts exposes the biases that have long held captive the Christian imagination. In this new edition, Benjamin Wayman offers an updated and fully annotated version of Roberts's original work and demonstrates the breadth and depth of his analysis. Roberts's vision of the gospel challenges the traditional and still-dominant view of the global church, and invites Christians to reimagine the inclusion of women in ordained ministry. If Christians had for so long been wrong about race, might we today be wrong about gender?
Embraced: Many Stories, One Destiny
In Embraced: Many Stories, One Destiny, Mark Buchanan creatively uses the art of storytelling to illustrate the theology of Jurgen Moltmann. Pastor Buchanan beckons us to engage with the stories and be drawn into a future beyond what we could imagine or create. We are invited to walk with an orphan, a disheartened young adult, a sorrowful community, a frustrated parent, and others, to encounter our own emptiness and indifference and eventually discover that «in the end, a beginning lies hidden.» God's boundless resolve to comfort the suffering, gather the lost, bring hope to the despairing, and share life that rises out of death is artfully expressed. Mark Buchanan captures common human experiences and compassionately takes us on the journey from hopelessness into hopefulness. He invites us into the embrace of God that sets us free and unites our story with God's story. As a practical application of Jurgen Moltmann's theology, Embraced: Many Stories, One Destiny introduces us to a shared life with God that is inclusive, hopeful, and creative.
Both Sides of the Wardrobe
The beloved Chronicles of Narnia are only the «top layer» of the rich treasure trove of C.S. Lewis's writing. This brilliant Oxford don made a tremendous impact on contemporary Christian thought and has deeply influenced generations of followers of Jesus in the half-century since his death. The authors in this collection examine Lewis's many contributions and reflect deeply on their significance for theology, spiritual imagination, and the challenge of Christian discipleship today. From Narnian adventures to Screwtape's letters, through studies of Lewis's collaborators (like J.R.R. Tolkien) and inspirations (like George MacDonald), and by way of reflection on deeper theological themes like human will, joy, and the End of Days, this book will inspire and provoke contemplation of God's presence in your life and in our world.
Answer the Prayer of Jesus
God has accomplished many great things through the church, but can the church be even more effective? Is there something the church can do to be both more pleasing to the Lord and more productive? Answer the Prayer of Jesus speaks to these questions. The church can be more effective if it seeks to answer the prayer of Jesus in John 17. Unity is important to the mission of the church of Jesus Christ. In this book both the challenges and possibilities of unity are examined. Drawing from Scripture and his experiences of contemporary church life, the John Lathrop gives specific examples of unity. He also offers practical advice about how one can become part of the answer to the prayer of Jesus. This book will enable you to see a small portion of what God is doing in the world today and will encourage you to become part of it.
From Death to Life
From Death to Life examines what happens when people die. Have you ever wondered or are you curious about end of life moments? Is there actually a splitting of the body and soul at the time of death, or is there something else? What happens to the survivors after their loved one dies, and how are they comforted in their time of sorrow and grief? In this book the words of the Holy Bible, and others like Martin Luther, will speak to you, tell you the truth, and give you words of comfort, so that you too can have the sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.