Wise Sheep Among the Wolves All Christian disciples have one thing in common: as they carry the gospel across the ocean and across the street, persecution will become the norm for those who choose to follow Jesus. How believers respond in the face of persecution reveals everything about their level of faith and obedience. The Insanity of Obedience is a bold challenge to global discipleship. Nik Ripken exposes the danger of safe Christianity and calls readers to something greater. The Insanity of Obedience challenges Christians in the same, provocative way that Jesus did. This book dares you—and prepares you—to cross the street and the oceans with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Some of Jesus’ instructions sound uncomfortable and are potentially dangerous. We may be initially encouraged by His declaration, “I am sending you out.” But how are we to respond when He then tells us that He is sending us out “like sheep among wolves"? In light of the words of Jesus, how can modern day believers rest comfortably in the status quo? How can we embrace casual faith in light of the radical commands of Jesus which are anything but casual? Ripken brings decades of ministry experience in some of the most persecuted areas of the world to bear on our understanding of faith in Jesus. The Insanity of Obedience is a call to roll up your sleeves . . . and to follow and partner with Jesus in the toughest places on this planet. "We have the high privilege of answering Jesus’ call to go," Ripken says. "But let us be clear about this: we go on His terms, not ours. If we go at all, we go as sheep among wolves." Jesus gives us Himself. And He gives us the tools necessary for those who dare to journey with Him.

An amazing story of a missionary couple's journey into the toughest places on earth is combined with stories about remarkable people of faith they encountered to challenge and inspire those curious about the sufficiency of God.

The Insanity of Obedience Bible Study Book includes small-group experiences for six sessions, weekly individual-study opportunities, applicable Scripture, "How to Use This Study," and tips for leading a group. How do we begin to walk and work with God, especially in dangerous places? Based on the documentary The Insanity of God, this Bible study presents missionary Nik Ripken sharing true stories of people who are suffering for the name of Jesus. This study is an invitation to open your heart, your mind, and your eyes to the realities of walking with Jesus in difficult places. Engage with Scripture and see what it means to be a true follower of Jesus, not just someone who believes certain truths. Discover the answers to key missiological and theological questions about living sacrificially for the cause of Christ. Believers play a significant role in God's divine purpose. Observe how Christians all over the world are not only surviving but also thriving in the midst of persecution. Session Content: 1) Nations This session deals with God's command to be on mission and our response to His command. The Bible is to be lived out in the present active tense. 2) Persecution This session explores faith in persecution and suffering. Is obedience on this level insane, especially in the midst of popular theology that encourages obedience leading to success and comfort? 3) Family This session deals with the spread of the gospel by addition and exponential growth. Faith grows in families and communities, from a single believer to small groups of believers to succeeding generations. 4) Growth This session deals with the dynamics of healthy growth. 5) Victory This session describes and celebrates the miracle of victorious living through an enduring faith--especially in hostile environments. 6) Church This session is a summary and personal call to action for individuals, groups, and churches to join God's mission--no matter how insane obedience may look. Why? Because Jesus is worth it. Features: - Clips from the feature documentary The Insanity of Obedience - Biblically rooted and gospel-centered - Firsthand accounts in the author's voice - Individual-study opportunities for ongoing spiritual growth - Six-week Bible Study Book with group and personal components - Step-by-step plans for six group sessions - Promotional content, including a promotional video for the Bible study - Social-media assets for the group leader Benefits: - Confront the misconception that church membership is the same as following Jesus. - See that the Bible's commands are nonnegotiable. - Break the grip of the seduction of comfort and ask Christians to face the question, Who is Jesus, and is He worth my life? - Put aside programs and practices to insert missional sacrifice and calling into the normal rhythms of church culture. - Give group members examples of ways to identify and respond to God's call on their lives. - Show believers how best to respond when persecution comes. - Demonstrate to groups that the bar of Christianity has become low in Western culture. - Reveal the Bible as nonnegotiable. - Lead believers to the conclusion that telling people about Jesus is normal Christianity. - Celebrate the miracle of victorious living. - Explore faith in persecution and suffering. - Provide a means to find courage from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. - Explore the dynamics of the personal call to action for individuals, groups, and churches to join God's mission.

What does it look like when someone feels called to do something that doesn’t make sense? It depends on who you ask. To the one doing it, it seems like the only choice. To those looking on from the outside, it may look admirable, a little on the crazy side or bordering on insanity. This is the true story of one couple who knew that calling as they became unwittingly involved in the life of a stranger, a sweet old man named George who landed on their porch in the midst of a heart attack. Despite any real plan, Linda and Bobby answered a gentle nudge from God. As they surrendered, God perfectly orchestrated everything, allowing them all to receive a lifetime of living and loving in just eight months. When it was all over, they were unable to imagine anything more beautiful than the lifelong blessings they received. And then one last unexpected blessing came to light, which God used to open the eyes of those looking on from the outside.

Every person acquires a worldview, a picture of reality. Within that picture, the existence of some things will be taken wholly for granted as the background to, and support of, everything else. Their existence will rarely be questioned. The cosmos or universe, the gods, God, Brahman, Heaven, the Absolute--R. T. Allen claims that all these and other world- views have been held to be that which necessarily exists and upon which all other beings depend in one way or another.European philosophers, since antiquity, have offered arguments to show that their chosen candidates for the role of the necessary being or beings that support the rest of reality do actually exist. The Necessity of God sets the valid core of previous ontological arguments. It does not and cannot prove that God exists, but only that something necessarily exists. In an a priori manner and without inferring anything from what in fact exists, Allen proceeds to show that which necessarily exists is one, transfinite, eternal, and the archetype of personal existence: in short, that it is God as classically conceived. As for everything else that may exist, it must be finite and dependent for its existence upon God as its creator and sustainer.Few things are more erroneous in philosophy and disastrous in practice than artificial constructions produced without constant reference to concrete reality. That which necessarily exists may be the one exception. Before this constructive argument, Allen examines previous examples of ontological arguments in order to show exactly where they go wrong and to extract the valid core obscured within them. This will make clear the difference between them and his new version. The reader who is eager to engage the philosophical sources of belief will find a distinct treasure in The Necessity of God.

Unleash the power of God’s grace as you journey through the Old Testament. Prepare to be challenged and transformed as you explore the stories and testimonies of the Bible, where grace refuses to be tamed. Grace is a dangerous topic. We want to domesticate it, calm it down, and stuff it into a blue blazer and a pair of khakis. But biblical grace—or charis—doesn’t like to settle down. Grace is a dangerous topic because the Bible is a dangerous book. Scandalous Grace offers: Biblically rich viewpoints that challenge conventional interpretations; An exploration of grace in the Old Testament instead of a focus on judgment; Theological perspective that showcases a benevolent God who consistently extends redemption to those seen as irredeemable. Whether you're a seasoned theologian or seeking Christian spiritual growth, Scandalous Grace promises an intellectual and spiritual journey that will expand your understanding of a God whose grace knows no boundaries.

Identifies the dangers of safe Christianity and the embracing of casual faith, daring readers to face the risk of persecution and partner with Jesus in the toughest places on Earth.

"Charles Spurgeon once said, "You're either a missionary or an imposter." To be a Christ-follower means joining Jesus on his mission to redeem humanity. But missional living is easier said than done in a culture drifting toward post-Christian secularism. More than ever, we need a dose of Jesus' missionary ethos to fill our minds with gospel passion ... Each chapter of this book highlights missionary heroes--historical and modern-day Christians--who challenge us to join God's redemptive mission ... You'll find that God uses ordinary, run-of-the-mill folks to extend his glory into the earthly setting. Author David Joannes draws upon history, psychology, life experience, and powerful storytelling to reshape your perception of God's unique plan for your life. He says, "If you really want to thrive on mission, you must allow God to redefine your definition of the normal Christian life."--Publisher

Bestselling author Nik Ripken, mentored by believers in persecution, offers a 90-day devotional to help you align your heart with God's, seeing the role sacrifice plays in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ. Individuals and families will be challenged to embrace sacrifice as their daily offering to God. It is through offering ourselves that we mirror the nature of the Father who gave His only Son to be crucified, and the nature of the Son who gave His very life to save sinners. Through this book readers will discover that their sacrifice can lead others, across the street and across the oceans, to discover new resurrection life in Christ.