We hear people say we should love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, but what does that mean? Or more importantly, what could it look like to fall in love with God? “Chad, jump on the gator’s back!” In a split second, a decision had to be made. Did Chad love his future brother-in-law enough to help him control a powerful seven-and-a-half-foot alligator? Ultimately, there was a subconscious devotion that affected his decision. We all face decisions every day. Some of them are small, but others are potentially life-altering. What you decide to do in those split seconds comes down to this: We all have beliefs about life and love, about what is most important, and we all act on those beliefs. In this book, Chad Young addresses what many Christians are missing: being in love with God. The lack of genuine faith and love in the church is the main reason why 59% of college students who grew up with a Christian background are leaving the Christian faith. Chad uses his own faith journey and humorous stories to call you to a deeper, legitimate love for God.

John Dumont Hudson, or Alligator John D as he is affectionately known, organized and became the first pastor of First Baptist Church in St. Elmo, Alabama, without formal theology or training. After preaching the gospel for more than twenty years, at sixty-two years old he started an alligator farm in Southern Florida that soon became a roaring success. From his recollections of life as a young rebellious boy in the rural South to his tales of taking European tourists on airboat tours and wrestling alligators, the story of Alligator John D is proof that there is an angel inside every mischievous child, and that the twists and turns of life can often lead us to the last place we every expected to be. Most importantly, Alligator John D is a reminder to readers to keep the Creator first, throughout lifes unpredictable moments. Once this is accomplished, all other necessities will fall into place.

"All you Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites!" Unfortunately comments like this and the deep passionate emotion behind them define today's postmodern culture. Truth is, according to a recent study by the Barna group, the number one reason for rejecting Christianity is a lack of authentic Christians among peers. Meanwhile, we are so busy "being" Christians and "doing" Christian activities in our churches that we are not relating to people on a meaningful, authentic way. Author Chad Young writes as someone who has struggled with a worldly lifestyle and also the distractions of living in such a busy culture. Through real-life stories and raw honesty, Young unpacks some of the key things he's learned so far about being a real Christian to help you overcome obstacles and travel well on the road toward authentic Christian faith.

In this six week video study, Adam Hamilton explores the key points in his new book, Making Sense of the Bible. With the help of this Leader Guide, groups learn from Hamilton as his video presentations lead groups through the book, focusing on the most important questions we ask about the Bible, its origins and meaning.

What is the purpose of studying history? How do we reflect on contemporary life from a historical perspective, and can such reflection help us better understand ourselves, the world around us, and the God we worship and serve? Written by an accomplished historian, award-winning author, public evangelical spokesman, and respected teacher, this introductory textbook shows why Christians should study history, how faith is brought to bear on our understanding of the past, and how studying the past can help us more effectively love God and others. John Fea shows that deep historical thinking can relieve us of our narcissism; cultivate humility, hospitality, and love; and transform our lives more fully into the image of Jesus Christ. The first edition of this book has been used widely in Christian colleges across the country. The second edition provides an updated introduction to the study of history and the historian's vocation. The book has also been revised throughout and incorporates Fea's reflections on this topic from throughout the past 10 years.

Accessible, challenging, funny, and one of the best reads on how to love others in any situation. Love and hospitality can change the way you see the world and others. That's exactly what modern-day theologian, Richard Beck, experienced when he first led a Bible study at a local maximum security prison. Beck believed the promise of Matthew 25 that states when we visit the prisoner, we encounter Jesus. Sure enough, God met Beck in prison. With his signature combination of biblical reflection, theological reasoning, and psychological insight, Beck shows how God always meets us when we entertain the marginalized, the oppressed, and the refugee. Stories from Beck's own life illustrate this truth -- God comes to him in the poor, the crippled, the smelly. Psychological experiments show how we are predisposed to appreciate those who are similar to us and avoid those who are unlike us. The call of the gospel, however, is to override those impulses with compassion, to "widen the circle of our affection." In the end, Beck turns to the Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux for guidance in doing even the smallest acts with kindness, and he lays out a path that any of us can follow.

The best-selling divination system--over 1,000,000 copies sold worldwide--revised and expanded for the first time.