Pagan philosophers of old spoke of virtues of justice, self-control, prudence, and courage as necessary for a civil society. However important these may be, Scripture tells us that Christians have three chief virtues necessary for living a truly virtuous and godly life before God: faith, hope, and love. In this book, Godefridus Udemans carefully explains the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, using them as standards and guides for cultivating faith, hope, and love in our hearts. Udemans particularly excels in demonstrating the practical relevance of these teachings, making this not only an overview of Reformed doctrine but also a handbook for living blessedly forever. Table of Contents: Part 1: The Chief Chrisitan Virtues Part 2: The Practice of Faith - The Apostles' Creed Part 3: The Practice of Hope - The Lord's Prayer Part 4: The Practice of Love: The Ten Commandments Series Description Classics of Reformed Spirituality Series offers fresh translations of key writings from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, making them accessible to the twenty-first century church. These writings from the "Further Reformation" in the Netherlands offer a balance of doctrine and piety, a mingling of theology and life that has seldom been equaled in the history of Christianity. Each book in this series will provide invaluable insights into a vibrant part of the Christian heritage.

Wainwright insists that faith, hope, and love pave a path to unity for a historically divided Church.

Virtues are in, but the work of Bill Bennett and others says little about specifically Christian virtues. Jonathan Wilson now recounts the recent rise of virtue ethics and provides a compelling Christian account and justification of them. Wilson engages such key figures as Alasdair MacIntyre and Stanley Hauerwas. Focusing especially on the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, he not only sets forth a closely reasoned intellectual argument but suggests how an embrace of virtue ethics might change the nitty-gritty practice of the church's education, worship, and hospitality. Accessible, informed, and faithful, 'Gospel Virtues' is important reading for all who care about issues of character and community.

What is a good human being and who is good? Has anyone ever been perfect and, if so, who? How does one grow in goodness and become perfect? What is man really? What would we be like, male and female, if human nature could ever be brought to perfection? This book is an attempt to answer these questions by examining the meaning of virtue following the coming of Christ, or what one might call the 'Christian Revolution' of virtue ethics, particularly in regard to the theological virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity.

Rev. Cameron Trimble's hobby as a pilot has taught her the importance of thoughtful attention and daily practice to create the muscle memory that makes her a safer pilot. Piloting Life: Sixty Meditations on Faith, Hope, and Love encourages readers to use that same diligence to cultivate a rich spiritual life that will sustain them and help them quickly adapt to life's challenges.

Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible. Imagine for a moment what the world might look like if we as people of faith, morality, and conscience actually aspired to this mantra. What if we were fully burdened to create a world that was more loving and equitable than when we arrived? What if we invited one another to share in wide-open, fearless, spiritual communities truly marked by compassion and interdependence? What if we daily challenged ourselves to live a faith that simply made us better humans? John Pavlovitz explores how we can embody this kinder kind of spirituality where we humbly examine our belief system to understand how it might compel us to act in less-than-loving ways toward others. This simple phrase, "Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible," could help us practice what we preach by creating a world where: spiritual community provides a sense of belonging where all people are received as we are; the most important question we ask of a religious belief is not Is it true? but rather, is it helpful? it is morally impossible to pledge complete allegiance to both Jesus and America simultaneously; the way we treat others is the most tangible and meaningful expression of our belief system. In If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk, John Pavlovitz examines the bedrock ideas of our religion: the existence of hell, the utility of prayer, the way we treat LGBTQ people, the value of anger, and other doctrines to help all of us take a good, honest look at how the beliefs we hold can shape our relationships with God and our fellow humans—and to make sure that love has the last, loudest word.

What are the pathways that lead us to God? In this book Helen Cepero leads you through the journey beginning with three ways of love, then three ways of continuing in faith, and then lastly, three ways of living in hope. These nine pathways will lead you into deeper life with Christ.

We often think of "spiritual growth" as a matter of behavior, but in reality spiritual growth is a matter of the heart. In Making Spiritual Progress Allen Ratta introduces a revolutionary system for monitoring your motivations—faith, hope and love, the virtues out of which spiritual growth grows.

You are what you love. But you might not love what you think. In this book, award-winning author James K. A. Smith shows that who and what we worship fundamentally shape our hearts. And while we desire to shape culture, we are not often aware of how culture shapes us. We might not realize the ways our hearts are being taught to love rival gods instead of the One for whom we were made. Smith helps readers recognize the formative power of culture and the transformative possibilities of Christian practices. He explains that worship is the "imagination station" that incubates our loves and longings so that our cultural endeavors are indexed toward God and his kingdom. This is why the church and worshiping in a local community of believers should be the hub and heart of Christian formation and discipleship. Following the publication of his influential work Desiring the Kingdom, Smith received numerous requests from pastors and leaders for a more accessible version of that book's content. No mere abridgment, this new book draws on years of Smith's popular presentations on the ideas in Desiring the Kingdom to offer a fresh, bottom-up rearticulation. The author creatively uses film, literature, and music illustrations to engage readers and includes new material on marriage, family, youth ministry, and faith and work. He also suggests individual and communal practices for shaping the Christian life.

A little elephant asks his mother about the nature of faith and realizes that it is closer and more powerful than he thought.