Best Christology

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A lucid, intelligent page-turner” ( Los Angeles Times ) that challenges long-held assumptions about Jesus, from the host of Believer Two thousand years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher walked across the Galilee, gathering followers to establish what he called the “Kingdom of God.” The revolutionary movement he launched was so threatening to the established order that he was executed as a state criminal. Sifting through centuries of mythmaking, Reza Aslan sheds new light on one of history’s most enigmatic figures by examining Jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived. He explores the reasons the early Christian church preferred to promulgate an image of Jesus as a peaceful spiritual teacher rather than a politically conscious revolutionary. A vivid, persuasive portrait.” — Salon “This tough-minded, deeply political book does full justice to the real Jesus, and honors him in the process.” — San Francisco Chronicle “A special and revealing work, one that believer and skeptic alike will find surprising, engaging, and original.” —Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power “Compulsively readable . Q. Yours is one of the few popular biographies of Jesus of Nazareth that does not rely on the gospels as your primary source of information for uncovering Jesus’ life. A. I certainly rely on the gospels to provide a narrative outline to my biography of Jesus of Nazareth, but my primary source in recreating Jesus’ life are historical writings about first century Palestine, like the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, as well as Roman documents of the time. In other words, the gospels tell us about Jesus the Christ, not Jesus the man. To get to the bottom of that mystery, which is what I try to do in the book, one must sift through the gospel stories to analyze their claims about Jesus in light of the historical facts we know about the time and world in which Jesus lived. But the more I read the Bible – especially in college, where I began my formal study of the New Testament – the more I uncovered a wide chasm between the Jesus of history and the Jesus I learned about in church. But the irony is that once I detached my academic study of Jesus from my faith in Christ, I became an even more fervent follower of Jesus of Nazareth. So in a way, this book is my attempt to spread the good news of Jesus the man with the same passion that I once applied to spreading the good news of Jesus the Christ. The key to understanding who Jesus was and what Jesus meant lies in understanding the times in which he lived. Aslan, who authored the much acclaimed No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, offers a compelling argument for a fresh look at the Nazarene, focusing on how Jesus the man evolved into Jesus the Christ. Approaching the subject from a purely academic perspective, the author parts an important curtain that has long hidden from view the man Jesus, who is every bit as compelling, charismatic, and praiseworthy as Jesus the Christ. Carefully comparing extra-biblical historical records with the New Testament accounts, Aslan develops a convincing and coherent story of how the Christian church, and in particular Paul, reshaped Christianity's essence, obscuring the very real man who was Jesus of Nazareth.

Trading the popular, but inaccurate Western perspective of the Bible for the context in which Jesus actually ministered in 2000 years ago, author Robby Gallaty reveals the fascinating Hebraic culture, customs, and nuances many Christians have never experienced or learned about. By uncovering the teaching of the first and second century rabbis and Christian theologians, and highlighting little-known Jewish idioms and traditions, Gallaty takes Christians on a biblical journey to rediscover a forgotten Jesus from a biblical perspective, deepening your relationship with God. "For many years, First Fruits of Zion has aimed to help Christians to know Jesus better by seeing Him in His Jewish context. ​ Bryant Wright , Senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, GA. As Gallaty re-situates him in his historical setting, he shows how our Rabbi brought the truth of God's Word to its greatest expression. Readers will be freshly amazed at Jesus' life and ministry when they view it in light of his first-century Jewish reality." As Gallaty re-situates him in his historical setting, he shows how our Rabbi brought the truth of God's Word to its greatest expression. Readers will be freshly amazed at Jesus' life and ministry when they view it in light of his first-century Jewish reality." In The Forgotten Jesus, Robby Gallaty helps us better understand the long-forgotten culture and context of Jesus's life and ministry so that we may better grasp the timeless beauty and power of his gospel." Pastor Robby Gallaty is a pastor and Bible teacher who shares that vision. His new book "The Forgotten Jesus" will help Christians to remember the Jewish Jesus that has largely been forgotten. "I'm delighted to see Robby Gallaty's The Forgotten Jesus and know it will be of great benefit for anyone wanting to understand Jesus' Jewish context. Readers will be freshly amazed at Jesus' life and ministry when they view it in light of his first-century Jewish reality." "I'm delighted to see Robby Gallaty's The Forgotten Jesus and know it will be of great benefit for anyone wanting to understand Jesus' Jewish context. Readers will be freshly amazed at Jesus' life and ministry when they view it in light of his first-century Jewish reality." In The Forgotten Jesus, Robby Gallaty helps us better understand the long-forgotten culture and context of Jesus's life and ministry so that we may better grasp the timeless beauty and power of his gospel. ---Larry Osborne, Pastor and Author, -- Larry Osborne, Pastor and Author, North Coast Church, Vista, California. For many years, First Fruits of Zion has aimed to help Christians to know Jesus better by seeing Him in His Jewish context. Pastor Robby Gallaty is a pastor and Bible teacher who shares that vision. His new book The Forgotten Jesus will help Christians to remember the Jewish Jesus who has largely been forgotten.

Michael Reeves, author of Delighting in the Trinity , opens to readers the glory and wonder of Christ, offering a bigger and more exciting picture than many have imagined. Reeves helps us celebrate who Christ is, his work on earth, his death and resurrection, his anticipated return and how we share in his life. In this book, British evangelical Michael Reeves aims to teach the reader not only about Christ, which he does with excellence, but far more to delight and rejoice in him. (Daniel J. Dillard, New Horizons, August-September 2016). " Rejoicing in Christ is just what the title implies―a delighted feasting on the person and work of our Lord. This is another rich, deep, simple, joyful, thrilling book―theology that does what theology should, pointing us to Jesus, marveling and celebrating." (Andrew Wilson, elder at Kings Church, Eastbourne, and author of several books, including If God Then What? "Michael Reeves has written a simple and yet elegant introduction to the work of Jesus Christ. Michael Reeves has a knack not only for making great truths accessible, but for leading us to bask in the warmth of Christ. (Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Theology, Westminster Seminary California). Michael Reeves (PhD, King's College) is an author, theologian, historian and professor who teaches at Wales Evangelical School of Theology (WEST) and is the director of Union, a WEST initiative that puts the theological academy back in the local church context. Reeves is the author of books such as Delighting in the Trinity, The Unquenchable Flame, Discovering the Heart of the Reformation, The Breeze of the Centuries, On Giants’ Shoulders and The Good God. He has also written numerous articles for publications including International Journal of Systematic Theology, Themelios, Desiring God, Credo and Reformation 21.

Dissolve the distractions of ego to find our authentic selves in God In his bestselling book Falling Upward, Richard Rohr talked about ego (or the False Self) and how it gets in the way of spiritual maturity. Shows how to navigate spiritually difficult terrain with clear vision and tools to uncover our True Selves Written by Father Richard Rohr, the bestselling author of Falling Upward Examines the fundamental issues of who we are and helps us on our path of spiritual maturity. When I use the term False Self, I mean that it is the self we manufacture and adopt to find our identity in the world—our jobs, our occupations, our religion, our culture, our sources of status. How do the concepts of True Self and False Self relate to the questions you explored in Falling Upward ? If you don’t find or recover your True Self, you remain in the first half of life forever, as many people do. Your True Self is the only part of you that really has access to the big questions, things like love, suffering, death, God. It’s not some kind of magical transaction that takes place between you and God, but the death of the passing self, the one you have created for yourself. In other words, once you have experienced the little losses and failings or falling upwards, you know at a deep level that you’ve been there before and none of it is going to kill you. If you don't learn how to die early, ahead of time, you spend your life avoiding all failure, humiliation, loss, and you're not ready for the last death. It may be necessary, but if you are living in that world, that revolving hall of mirrors, you so get enchanted with these reflections of what everybody thinks you are or wants you to be that you forget or you never discover who you really are before you did anything right or anything wrong, before you had your name, your reputation, your education, your family, your culture. The metaphor immortal diamond came from a poem by the Jesuit Englishman, Gerard Manley Hopkins. The last lines of this beautiful poem say, “I am all at once what Christ is, since he was what I am, and/ This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, patch, matchwood, immortal diamond,/ Is immortal diamond.” When I first wanted to clarify this notion of True Self/False Self, I immediately said that's going to be the, the metaphor. So many roles and identities shape individual lives that it's easy to be confused about what is authentically "us." Rohr, a Franciscan priest and founding director of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, N.Mex., leads a narrative excursion to the "True Self," the core of character that lies like a diamond buried within. Grasping onto the superficial identities of the false self, such as job, class, race, or accomplishments, can keep people from being the loving and generous conduits of the Divine that they are meant to be. God is always communicating with humans, but those who cling to ego and social position can’t hear these divine messages. The author makes clear that it is not easy to shed this falseness for truth in the inner life, but it is a spiritual path well worth the effort.

While excess consumption leads to bigger houses, faster cars, fancier technology, and cluttered homes, it never brings happiness. In The More of Less , Joshua Becker helps you... • Recognize the life-giving benefits of owning less. • Realize how all the stuff you own is keeping you from pursuing your dreams. • Craft a personal, practical approach to decluttering your home and life. • Experience the joys of generosity. • Learn why the best part of minimalism isn’t a clean house, it’s a full life. The beauty of minimalism isn’t in what it takes away. With practical suggestions and encouragement to personalize your own minimalist style, Joshua Becker shows you why minimizing possessions is the best way to maximize life. I’m so thankful for Joshua’s clear vision for what life can be when we choose to surround ourselves with less stuff, and how in doing so, we create more space for living and dreaming.”. — Shauna Niequist , author of Bread & Wine and Savor “Joshua Becker is a distinguished voice in the modern minimalism movement. Open this book to unburden your life and give oxygen to what matters most.”. — Rachel Macy Stafford , New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama and Hands Free Life. “In his latest book, The More of Less , Joshua Becker leads you through the steps of finding the life you want by getting to the heart of what you need. If you have been looking for a practical, actionable guide to help you find a simpler and more fulfilling way of living, this is the book you need.”. — Patrick Rhone , author of Enough. “Often our biggest fear about living with less is that we might miss out, but Joshua Becker explains with crystal clarity just how much we have to gain from the minimalist lifestyle. “ The More of Less is a great guide to starting and maintaining a life of simplicity.”. — Ryan Nicodemus , creator of theminimalists.com and co-author of Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life. “Joshua Becker is simply promoting a way to do life that is more than attractive—it’s a really big idea that will radically change lives. Joshua Becker is the founder and editor of Becoming Minimalist, a website that inspires millions around the world to own fewer possessions and find greater fulfillment in life.

Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to get at the true source of the church's power—the Holy Spirit. -- Francis Chan is the founder of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. The author of the bestselling Crazy Love pleads passionately for the church to live by the power of the forgotten God: the Holy Spirit. Calling Christians to more than just a better life, Chan says he wants to live a life unexplainable without the Holy Spirit, so dependent on the Spirit that, he says, if he doesn't come through, I'm screwed. He offers vivid personal stories and illustrations about how the church ought to help Christians discern the powerful gifts of the Spirit, rather than toning down radicals. Through solid scriptural support and compelling narrative, breakthrough author Francis Chan returns us to the Holy Spirit as the Bible describes Him.

In this new twentieth anniversary edition, John Bevere shows you how to identify the traps ahead of you and escape the victim mentality. With declaration-style prayers and testimonials from people whose lives have been changed by his message, this book will inspire you to stay free from offense and its destructive power. His desire is to support the local church and resource leaders regardless of location, language, or financial position.

What You Will Get From The Book: *100 plus originally written quotes. *Stories, insights, observations on how each quote came about. *Motivational, inspirational, thought-provoking information. *A new mindset. A GREAT GIFT for your someone special, your friends and family, or perhaps your client, or simply a giveaway. A beautifully written book of quotes that will uplift you, awaken your consciousness, empower your true self, challenge your thoughts and beliefs, keep you motivated and inspire you to change your perspective in life. "An invitation to spend a few minutes every day (or all at once) enveloped in quotes and back stories that uplift and inspire. It started out as a gentle soft rain and began to inspire and push my thoughts like distant thunder... sometimes hitting quite close to home. -Bento Leal (Relationship Skills Trainer & Best-Selling Author of "4 Essential Keys to Effective Communication"). It doesn't preach or lecture, but humbly using examples from her life Elsa Mendoza has shown us the wisdom she has gained and made it accessible to us, her readers, with true generosity of spirit. -Dr Denise A Nisbet, Ph.D (Author of This Eternal Journey Reflections on Love, Pain, Mysteries and The Whole Damn Thing, a Former Psychologist, Career Counsellor and Librarian). This is a book you can slowly read, one bite at a time, while really absorbing and applying the life lessons. The short vignettes build momentum and keep you moving though this dynamic and energetic book. Bottom line: if you need inspiration, positive vibes, and energy with which to align yourself, pick this up now!And this needs to be an audiobook. Elizabeth Renee (Founder and Owner at Black Hills Center for HEALing & the Advancement of Psychotherapy and Author of Being Luminous. I also appreciated quote #8, where the author said "In our lowest moments, we find our true power self." As a Certified Health Coach/Author/Blogger - I believe that the body is made to heal itself - if we give it the proper tools to do so.

Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. In 1943 Great Britain, when hope and the moral fabric of society were threatened by the relentless inhumanity of global war, an Oxford don was invited to give a series of radio lectures addressing the central issues of Christianity. He describes those doctrines that the four major denominations in Britain (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic) would have in common, e.g., original sin, the transcendent Creator God, and the divinity of Jesus as well as his atonement and bodily resurrection.

The Christian church has a long tradition of systematic theology, that is, studying theology and doctrine organized around fairly standard categories such as the Word of God, redemption, and Jesus Christ. His Systematic Theology provides the core theology content for all my classes and most of the other undergraduate theology courses at the University. No other theology text combines readability, range of views, and the ever-essential quality of reinforcing our systematic theologies with scripture… Each chapter closes with application questions, special terms, additional bibliography, a cross-section of other systematic texts with page numbers, a passage for memory, and a hymn…all centered on the theology of that chapter.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery–and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. Retold by his father, but using Colton’s uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, “Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.”. To see a brand new note from Colton regarding the truth behind other "Heaven" stories, go to heavenlive.org/colton.

A Volume Containing. The First Book of Enoch (The Ethiopic Book of Enoch). The Second Book of Enoch (The Slavonic Secrets of Enoch). The Third Book of Enoch (The Hebrew Book of Enoch). The Book of Fallen Angels, The Watchers, and the Origins of Evil: With Expanded Commentary on Enoch, Angels, Prophecies and Calendars in the Sacred Texts -. The Books of Enoch: A Complete Volume Containing - 1 Enoch (The Ethiopic Book of Enoch), 2 Enoch (The Slavonic Secrets of Enoch), 3 Enoch (The Hebrew Book of Enoch). Now Lumpkin has completed his work on The Third Book of Enoch. Dr. Lumpkin has appeared on Radio, Television, and Internet shows as a guest speaker on subjects of Fallen Angels, Church History, Religion, Theology, The Sacred Feminine, and the Axial Age.