Richard H. Bliese draws on historic architecture of eight-sided churches to call attention to an important but often overlooked emphasis on the eighth day of creation. Early Christians were focused on God's new creation that began in Christ's resurrection on Sunday, the first day of the week. But these Christians understood resurrection as the continuation of God's creative and redemptive activity. So the first day of the week became the eighth day of creation, and therefore the day of resurrection work and time to join with Christ in transforming the world. Christian disciples do this work by living out their baptismal vocations, especially in their daily work and through their ethical economic choices. The author turns to Martin Luther and the Reformation to outline an evangelical spirituality that invested in people and their vocations as worker-priests. Daily life, work, and family were underscored as the place where discipleship came alive. Bliese describes this as an architectural "design" for faithful living. He further draws on parts of Luther's Small Catechism (Ten Commandments, Apostles' Creed, and Lord's Prayer) as keys to this evangelical design. Five additional architectural designs for eighth-day disciples are included. The final chapter describes how eighth-day disciples are called to live by faith in freedom and responsibility. Making disciples today needs to revolve around a gospel story that links one's personal faith with one's work and economic life. Such faith gives us ears to hear God's unfolding drama and eyes to see the needs of the neighbor. The book includes a study guide for personal reflection and group conversation.

This book offers you the opportunity to deepen your intimacy with the Lord by guiding you into scripture-focused prayer and inviting you to orient your life around the rich rhythms of the church calendar. Written by a variety of authors who find joy in the power of biblically-centered prayer, each daily reflection is an invitation to walk more fully in the new resurrection life of Christ, in this “eighth day” of new creation. Find new rest in the life and love of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as On the Eighth Day leads you into a deeper, daily practice of prayer.

How can we transmit a living, personal Catholic faith to future generations? By coming to know Jesus Christ, and following him as his disciples. These are times of immense challenge and immense opportunity for the Catholic Church. Consider these statistics for the United States. Only 30 percent of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing. Fully 10 percent of all adults in America are ex-Catholics. The number of marriages celebrated in the Church decreased dramatically, by nearly 60 percent, between 1972 and 2010. Only 60 percent of Catholics believe in a personal God. If the Church is to reverse these trends, the evangelizers must first be evangelized-in other words, Catholics-in-the-pew must make a conscious choice to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. This work of discipleship lies at the heart of Forming Intentional Disciples, a book designed to help Church leaders, parish staff and all Catholics transform parish life from within. Drawing upon her fifteen years of experience with the Catherine of Siena Institute, Sherry Weddell leads readers through steps that will help Catholics enter more deeply into a relationship with God and the river of apostolic creativity, charisms, and vocation that flow from that relationship for the sake of the Church and the world. Learn about the five thresholds of postmodern conversion, how to open a conversation about faith and belief, how to ask thought-provoking questions and establish an atmosphere of trust, when to tell the Great Story of Jesus, how to help someone respond to God's call to intentional discipleship, and much more. And be prepared for conversion because when life at the parish level changes, the life of the whole Church will change.

Before ascending to heaven, Jesus instructed his followers to "make disciples of all nations." But what does this command actually entail? What does it look like for Christians to care for one another's spiritual well-being and growth? In this introduction to the basics of discipling, veteran pastor and author Mark Dever uses biblical definitions and practical examples to show how Christians can help one another become more like Christ every day. The eighth volume in the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series, this short book explains how discipling should function in the context of the local church, teaching pastors and church leaders how to cultivate a culture of edification and growth in their congregations.

New York Times Best Seller! Over 2,700 5-Star Reviews From the author that brought you NEW YORK TIMES best sellers The Book of Mysteries, The Harbinger, and The Paradigm with over 3 MILLION copies sold "Rabbi Jonathan Cahn is a Jewish prophet who has been chosen to reveal end-time mysteries—vital material to put the last-days puzzle together!" —Sid Roth | Host, It’s Supernatural! "The Mystery of the Shemitah is a detailed, compelling, and provocative book for anyone seeking answers to the future of America and the world." —Marcus D. Lamb | Founder, president, Daystar Television Network "The Mystery of the Shemitah is the most amazing thing I have ever read! Brilliant and stunning . . . sobering . . . humbling . . . it is undeniable truth. It is one of the most important books of our lifetime!" —Joseph Farah | Founder, WND ​ The Shemitah occurs every seven years. Has God already given us clues as to WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

A Disciple's Journal, carefully designed and deeply Wesleyan, provides a pattern of daily prayer and scripture reading for disciples who want to grow in holiness of heart and life. It invites readers into a Wesleyan way of following Jesus Christ shaped by the General Rule of Discipleship: To witness to Jesus Christ in the world and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The journal includes: A daily lectionary that corresponds with the Revised Common Lectionary Inspirational quotes from John Wesley Excerpts from Wesley's sermons Hymns from Charles Wesley Orders for prayer in the morning and evening Prayers for each day of the week A journal for discipleship A pattern for intercessory prayer

During a 1980s Edmonton Oilers game, fans unveiled a banner claiming, “On the 8th day, God created Gretzky.” Intersections between religious belief and sporting participation are nothing new, where players, coaches, and fans are known to pray, cross themselves, and point to the heavens during a game. But what should be the relationship between sports and religious faith? On the Eighth Day introduces the theology of sport from a Catholic standpoint. It wrestles with sport’s universal appeal, its rich symbolism, and its spiritual and moral characteristics. Sport is a place where embodied games can be sacramental; where traditions of the past speak to contemporary peoples; and where truth and justice are demanded in a world affected by sin. The eighth day recalls the playful, re-creative work of God the Creator embodied in Christ’s resurrection. In this sense, this book marks out a “new day” in Christian attitudes toward modern sport and the continuing call to redeem sport in service of human flourishing. Comprehensive yet accessible, the book will engage thoughtful lay sports fans and academic students alike.

In the last book by the leading evangelical churchman of the 20th century, John Stott opens up what it means at root to be a follower of Jesus. He explores eight aspects of Christian discipleship which are too often neglected and yet deserve to be taken seriously: non-conformity, Christ-likeness, maturity, creation-care, simplicity, balance, dependence and death.The message is simple, classic and personal: Jesus is Lord. He calls. We follow.

Discipleship is the buzzword today. Many believers are contemplating in a fresh way what it means to take the Great Commission seriously. Rediscovering Discipleship takes the guesswork out of Christian maturity. Based on insights gained from a decade of personally making disciples, author and pastor Robby Gallaty tackles the two hindrances that keep believers from getting involved in making disciples: ignorance and uncertainty. Since many believers have never been personally disciple, they have no model to guide them in discipling others. Their ignorance of the process fuels their uncertainty, which leaves them crippled from the start. With simple principles that are easy to apply, Rediscovering Discipleship provides readers with the tools to follow the Great Commission—to go and actually make disciples who multiply and make disciples. Gallaty begins with a brief historical overview of the discipleship ministries of influential theologians, preachers, and pastors from years past, and then identifies roadblocks that hinder believers from becoming disciples before offering a step-by-step process for readers to immediately get started on the path to effective disciple making.

This unique book promises to be profoundly useful for all who take it seriously. Merely to talk about what we should be doing is surely one form of cheap grace. The book provides concrete steps for making discipleship a way of life, not just a way of talk. Ventures in Discipleship" is extraordinarily practical with its uncommon mix of doctrine and application, reflection and action, theological probing and challenge to commitment, basic discipleship and a broad range of specific disciplines. . . No group of believers can use this book with serious intent and fail to move closer to real kingdom living, to genuine following of Jesus Christ." - Howard A. Snyder