In an attempt to understand the growing popularity and influence of Christian fundamentalism, sociologist and documentary filmmaker James Ault spent three years inside the world of a Massachusetts fundamentalist church.Spirit and Flesh takes us into worship services, home Bible studies, youth events, men’s prayer breakfasts, and bitter conflicts leading to a church split. We come to know the members of the congregation and see how the church acts as an extended family that provides support and security along with occasional tensions. Intimate and rigorously fair-minded, Spirit and Flesh will help non-religious readers better understand their fellow citizens, and will allow devout readers to see themselves through the eyes of a sympathetic outsider.

Beyond Flesh and Blood: The Ultimate Guide To Angels and Demons goes far beyond the average Sunday School teaching on spiritual warfare. Minister Fortson takes an in depth look at the origin of both angels and demons, and attempts to answer the tough questions on the minds of many Christians. 1) When were angels created? 2) When did Lucifer rebel against God? 3) Where do angels fit into human history? 4) Are fallen angels and demons the same thing? 5) Were the gods of mythology really fallen angels? 6) What do angels have to do with modern UFO sightings? 7) Is our current scientific pursuit of transhumanism a spiritual issue? These questions are just the beginning of the journey. As the book progresses, Minister Fortson tackles many other areas of the supernatural, such as the origin of ghosts, vampires, and our modern obsession with UFOs and aliens. You will also discover what our modern pursuit of creating hybrids has in common with various ancient mythologies from around the world, and the possible origin of these pursuits. Throughout the book, Minister Fortson explores historical text from many different cultures and belief systems in order to find out if the Hebrews were the only culture to encounter both angels and demons. The Bible tells us that our war is not with flesh and blood, but what does that statement really mean? Is the spiritual war crossing over into the physical realm? One thing is for sure, after you read this book, you will never look at the world we live in the same again.

"This book is the text for course CG-0477 in the subject area Personal Life in the Christian Growth Study Plan."

Visionary theologian and award-winning author Matthew Fox challenges traditional perceptions of good and evil by offering a new theology that lays the groundwork for a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In this revised edition with a luminous foreword by Deepak Chopra and a new preface that brings the book up to date with the cataclysmic events of the new millennium, Fox illustrates how, contrary to mainstream church doctrine, flesh is the grounding of spirit. Fox argues that our culture has concentrated far too much on transgressions of the flesh while failing to take into account its sacredness. Artfully weaving together the wisdom of East and West, he considers Thomas Aquinas's definition of sin as "misdirected love" and applies parallels between the Eastern teachings of the seven chakras and the Western teachings of the seven capital sins. Fox explains how the chakras teach us to direct the love-energies we all possess and proposes seven positive precepts for living a full and spirited life. He invites us to change the way we think about sin and asserts that we can combat and transform evil through love, generosity, letting go, and creativity. Crafting a blueprint for social change, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh points the way toward a deeper and more compassionate way to live while eloquently revealing the means to confront evil both within and without. From the Trade Paperback edition.

When He came to earth, Jesus Christ was rejected in every quarter in which He stepped. The Creator was rejected by His own creation. “He came to His own and His own received Him not,” said John. For this reason, Jesus Christ had “no where to lay His head.” There was one exception, however. A little village just outside of Jerusalem named Bethany. Bethany was the only place on earth where Jesus was completely received. God’s Favorite Place on Earth is a retelling of Jesus’ many visits to Bethany and a relaying of the message it holds for us today. Frank Viola presents a beautifully crafted narrative from the viewpoint of Lazarus, one of the people who lived in Bethany with his two sisters. This incomparable story not only brings the Gospel narratives to life, but it addresses the struggle against doubt, discouragement, fear, guilt, rejection, and spiritual apathy that challenges countless Christians today. In profoundly moving prose, God’s Favorite Place on Earth will captivate your heart with its beauty, charm, and depth. In this book you will discover how to live as a “Bethany” in our world today, being set free to love and follow Jesus like never before.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). The Holy Spirit empowers us, guides us, and enables us to grow and endure in our relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. Often the most misunderstood member of the Trinity, the person of the Spirit continues to attract attention today amidst church revivals and renewals. In this new edition of his classic Keep in Step with the Spirit, J. I. Packer seeks to help Christians reaffirm the biblical call to holiness and the Spirit s role in keeping our covenant with God. Packer guides us through the riches and depth of the Spirit s work, assesses versions of holiness and the charismatic life, and shows how Christ must always be at the centre of true Spirit-led ministry. A new chapter explores Christian assurance. With abiding relevance and significance, Keep in Step with the Spirit sets forth vital knowledge for healthy and joyous Christian living, through understanding and experience of God the Holy Spirit. Here is a book for every serious believer to read and re-read.

The Armor of God, more than merely a biblical description of the believer's inventory, is an action plan for putting it on and developing a personalized strategy to secure victory.

The unpardonable sin is lurking like a deadly shark preying on its next unsuspecting meal. ... Will you be its next victim? One of the most confusing and debated teachings of the Bible is the unpardonable sin, found in Matthew 12:31: "Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men." Some attribute this frightening sin to cursing the name of God, while others believe it has to do with murder. Whatever it is, millions of Christians live in fear that they've committed it and have no real hope. But even worse, others might be close to living beyond God's mercy and don't even know it! What is the Bible truth about the unpardonable sin? What is so awful about it and why can't God forgive it? You don't need to guess! Pastor Doug Batchelor tackles these questions to give you all the information you need to know about this perplexing topic. Not only will you get clear and penetrating answers, you'll discover new hope and a strategy to stay right with God.

USA Today Bestseller Learn how to work your way through life’s unexpected challenges with grace and find a deeper faith while on your journey. In this biblical and conversational book by Dr. Tony Evans and his four adult children—Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Shirer, Anthony Evans, and Jonathan Evans—you will hear five insightful perspectives on what it means to hold on to faith when life breaks your heart. We have all been through difficult seasons and times in life when it seems like the hits keep coming and you can barely catch your breath. The Evans family knows what this is like, as they’ve experienced the deep grief of losing eight loved ones in less than two years’ time, including the devastating passing of Lois Evans, the matriarch of the family. In Divine Disruption, Dr. Tony Evans and his children pull back the curtain on their faith-shaking experiences, in order to provide biblical wisdom and practical encouragement for how to deal with the hard, unexpected things we all inevitably face. You’ll walk away with insights on: Why bad things happen despite a good and powerful God Persevering in difficult times and experiencing God’s peace What causes distress in your life—and how to move past it How to keep your faith from being damaged during tough times Join the Evans Family in this unique Kingdom Legacy partnership as they candidly share honest questions they’ve asked, raw emotions they’ve felt, and solutions they’ve learned. Your life may have been interrupted, but you can use that to grow closer to God—and find peace.