Jesus Christ did not die on the cross so you and I could have a nice day. Ministers and teachers who water down the gospel of Christ in order to make it more popular and appealing may be leading their fun-loving audiences down the road to eternal punishment. This book is John MacArthur's unflinching, unapologetic treatise on the modern tendency to alter the true message of Christianity in order to meet the whims and desires of a culture hoping for nonconfrontational messages, easy answers, and superficial commitments. Too many people just want a Madison Avenue Jesus to make them well, make them happy, and make them prosperous. But Jesus Christ isn't a personal genie. He is the Savior. He died in agony to satisfy the wrath of a holy God and to forgive the sins of humankind. Faith in Him demands a willingness to make any sacrifice He asks. The hard truth about Christianity is that the cost is high, but the rewards are priceless: abundant and eternal life that comes only from faithfully follwing Christ.

There is no user-friendly, seeker-sensitive Gospel. There is only the truth. Let John MacArthur personally guide you deeper into the biblical truths of Hard to Believe?truths that triumph over the world's false view of Christianity. In this workbook, pastor, teacher, and best-selling author John MacArthur takes you step by step through each main idea of his insightful and sometimes shocking new book, Hard to Believe. These interactive lessons reaffirm that watered-down Christianity is really no Christianity at all, and that true faith must be defended in a cynical yet tolerant world regardless of the cost. Jesus instructs would-be Christians to deny themselves, take up their crosses daily, and follow Him. It is a tremendous journey filled with pain and sacrifice, but one that ultimately leads to a joy beyond measure?because the reward is eternal life. The Hard to Believe Workbook includes a six-part study guide for every chapter plus special features, including key quotations from the book; daily prayers, Bible readings, and study questions; notes and answers for discussion leaders; and much more. Short of having Pastor MacArthur in your living room or Bible study class, the Hard to Believe Workbook is the best way possible to fully experience his life-changing insights into the high cost and infinite value of following Jesus.

What is the role of the will in believing the good news of the gospel? Why is there so much controversy over free will throughout church history? R. C. Sproul finds that Christians have often been influenced by pagan views of the human will that deny the effects of Adam's fall. In Willing to Believe, Sproul traces the free-will controversy from its formal beginning in the fifth century, with the writings of Augustine and Pelagius, to the present. Readers will gain understanding into the nuances separating the views of Protestants and Catholics, Calvinists and Arminians, and Reformed and Dispensationalists. This book, like Sproul's Faith Alone, is a major work on an essential evangelical tenet.

Does Christianity Have Good Answers for the Really Tough Questions? Dr. R. C. Sproul believes it does. In this book, the founder of Ligonier Ministries deals with the most common objections to the truths of the Christian faith, including: Has science disproved the existence of God? Will non-Christians who never hear of Christ go to hell? Is it narrow-minded and bigoted to believe Christ is only one way to God? Why do people need God when life is going smoothly? Isn't Christianity just a crutch for people who can’t handle life’s pressures? Is heaven real or just "pie in the sky"? Do Christians have a good answer to evil and suffering? How does the church explain all its hypocrites? Reason to Believe is no collection of pat answers and proof texts. It addresses each objection in a separate chapter—rigorously and biblically—and includes a special capsule summary that gives the kernel of each argument. This is a superb resource for those in visitation and calling programs, and a must for anyone who wants to do more than scratch the surface of Christian truths.

A blend of teaching and inspiration from John MacArthur's popular books Twelve Ordinary Men and Twelve Extraordinary Women. Includes daily readings and scripture verses. --from publisher description.

I Still Believe is a story that spans decades of multiple Grammy winner and Christian music icon Russ Taff's life, told from the first-hand perspective of Russ and his wife, Tori. You’ve seen the movie; now get the complete, unflinchingly honest details of the journey from childhood abuse to massive success with music, from the searing pain of addiction to his hard-won recovery. Russ opens up in-depth for the first time about the shame and trauma that irrefutably impacted his faith, his family, and his career. But woven throughout I Still Believe is a miraculous testament to the power of love—from God, family, and friends, but especially from Tori, who was fierce in her love for her best friend who was slowly disappearing before her eyes. But this relentless love and a lot of hard work helped Russ move out of hiding and into the light of recovery and acceptance. Above all, this is a story about hope. Hope for anyone who feels they have been hurt too badly, fallen too far, or caused too much damage along the way. This memoir stands as a testament that in spite of seemingly insurmountable odds, there is always reason to keep believing. Russ and Tori’s beautifully broken story will encourage any reader that there is no need to be defined or held back by the trauma of the past; instead, life can be rooted in and restored through faith, recovery, love, and the promise that God will never let you go.

Meet Rufus Valasay. As a member of Les Croyants des Trois, a powerful clan of telepaths and healers, he is sworn to protect the ordinary world of the Moyenne. But now, with his memory gone and danger approaching, Rufus has nothing to go on but his passionate feelings for the only person he can trust . . . Make Me Remember He wakes in the cold streets of Edinburgh-no name, no memory, nothing but the certain fear that he has made a terrible mistake and left someone in danger. But should he trust the stranger with the blue eyes and blonde hair who offers him a warm place to stay? With a name like Fabian Fair, how could he not? Her quick smile, her lush curves, and the kindness in her voice stir a hunger he can't ignore. At least he hasn't forgotten how to bring a woman exquisite pleasure. Or-alarmingly-how to read her deepest thoughts . . . With each caress and soulful kiss, his memory returns, making him wish he could forget again. For he is no ordinary mortal, but a Croyant, a magic man, and the danger he faces is very real. Someone is coming for him, someone who will harm anyone to get to him and his kind. But he doesn't intend to make the same mistake twice, or let go of his only reason to believe . . .

For anyone who feels caught in the tension between the beauty of God's story and the ugliness of human hypocrisy, Why I Still Believe offers a stirring story of hope. Why would anyone be a Christian when there is so much hypocrisy in the church? Mary Jo Sharp shares her journey as a skeptical believer who still holds to a beautiful faith despite wounding experiences in the Christian community. At a time when de-conversion stories have become all too common, this is an earnest response - the compelling conversion of an unlikely believer whose questions ultimately led her to irresistible hope. Sharp addresses her own struggle with the reality that God's people repeatedly give God's story a bad name and takes a careful look at how the current church often inadvertently produces atheists despite its life-giving message. For those who feel the ever-present tension between the beauty of salvation and the dark side of human nature, Why I Still Believe is a candid and approachable case for believing in God when you really want to walk away. With fresh and thoughtful insights, this spiritual narrative presents relevant answers to haunting questions like: Isn't there too much pain and suffering to believe? Is it okay to have doubt? What if Jesus' story is a copy of another story? Is there any evidence for Jesus' resurrection? Does atheism explain the human experience better than Christianity can? How can the truth of Christianity matter when the behaviors of Christians are reprehensible? At once logical and loving, Sharp reframes the gospel as it truly is: the good news of redemption. With firmly grounded truths, Why I Still Believe is an affirming reminder that the hypocrisy of Christians can never negate the transforming grace and truth of Christ.

A concise guide to understanding how and why the ancient Christian faith makes sense for today and a blueprint for communicating truth to a "truthless" and cynical generation.The book is centered around 6 key principles: objectivity, rationality, veracity, authority, incompatibility and integrity. In the ultimate apologetic, John MacArthur presents a case for Christianity that serves as a logical explanation as much as a solid defense.

Sometimes we need a hand to help us get to the gifts locked inside us. Believe to Achieve is that helping hand, daring readers of all ages to reach for their most cherished dream and giving them the tools to get there. Author Howard "H" White tells us extraordinary people are simply ordinary people on fire with desire -- and he knows. As Nike, Inc.'s liaison for athletes such as Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, "H" has had plenty of experience with superstars. But he did not start there. He has known extraordinary people his whole life, from his family and friends to his coaches and teachers. All along the way, Howard has met people who have opened his eyes to his own abilities, and he has spent his life doing the same for others. Full of behind-the-scenes moments with favorite athletes as well as funny anecdotes, Believe to Achieve is an exuberant collection of wisdom that will help you recognize the potential in yourself and see the path to success. It is a handbook for all people who have a goal they do not know how to reach or who want to help others discover their gifts. As Howard says, you can never tell what people are capable of just by looking at them -- even you.