Surprised by Hope Bible Study Participant's Guide

Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: HarperChristian Resources
ISBN: 0310692148
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 98

Book Description
Many Christians believe our future in heaven is all that really matters. But that's not what the Bible teaches. In this six-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), premier Bible scholar N. T. Wright brings you inside the Scriptures to grasp the full, breathtaking hope Jesus offers the world, and its impact on your life today. Gain an exciting new vision for your life on earth in light of your future in heaven. Wonderful as is the promise of heaven, a glorious hereafter is just part of what salvation is about. What about today? Jesus called his followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Your life here and now is of tremendous consequence, and what you believe about the future has a direct impact on how you live in the present. In six transforming, faith-inspiring sessions, premiere biblical scholar N. T. Wright opens your eyes to the amazing full scope of what God's Word has to say about the world to come and the world that is. Filled with discussion questions, thoughts for reflection, and ideas for personal application, this study guide will help you get the most out of each session as you explore such questions as What is heaven really like? Is our main duty as Christians simply to help non-Christians get there? What hope does the gospel hold for this present life? In what ways does God intend for us to experience that hope personally and spread its healing power to the world around us? Surprised by Hope provides a clearer vision both of the future and of God's kingdom at hand today. This study provides individual and group activities, additional background material, and between-session personal studies that will enhance your experience of the video sessions. Sessions include: Hope for the World The Hope of the Resurrection The Hope of Heaven The Hope of Jesus’ Second Coming The Hope of Salvation The Hope of the Church Designed for use with the Surprised by Hope Video Study (sold separately).

Surprised by Hope

Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0061551821
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 356

Book Description
For years Christians have been asking, "If you died tonight, do you know where you would go?" It turns out that many believers have been giving the wrong answer. It is not heaven. Award-winning author N. T. Wright outlines the present confusion about a Christian's future hope and shows how it is deeply intertwined with how we live today. Wright, who is one of today's premier Bible scholars, asserts that Christianity's most distinctive idea is bodily resurrection. He provides a magisterial defense for a literal resurrection of Jesus and shows how this became the cornerstone for the Christian community's hope in the bodily resurrection of all people at the end of the age. Wright then explores our expectation of "new heavens and a new earth," revealing what happens to the dead until then and what will happen with the "second coming" of Jesus. For many, including many Christians, all this will come as a great surprise. Wright convincingly argues that what we believe about life after death directly affects what we believe about life before death. For if God intends to renew the whole creation—and if this has already begun in Jesus's resurrection—the church cannot stop at "saving souls" but must anticipate the eventual renewal by working for God's kingdom in the wider world, bringing healing and hope in the present life. Lively and accessible, this book will surprise and excite all who are interested in the meaning of life, not only after death but before it.

3:16 Participant's Guide

Author: Max Lucado
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 1418548952
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 113

Book Description
Experience the essential truth of the Christian faith as Max Lucado unpacks one of the most beloved scriptures in the entire Bible—John 3:16. Best-selling author Max Lucado leads readers through a word-by-word study of John 3:16, the passage that he calls the "Hope Diamond" of Scripture. Now available in a smaller, more affordable format, the study includes 12 lessons that are designed to work with both the trade book and the DVD for a multi-media experience. Features include: Scripture-focused lessons Interactive questions for reflection and meditation 12 weeks of study Leader's Guide for shepherding small groups (for download online) Designed for use with the 3:16 DVD-Based Small Group Study (ISBN 9781418548940).

Surprised by Hope

Author: Nicholas Thomas Wright
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 031032470X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 98

Book Description
Many Christians believe that their future in heaven is all that really matters, but that's not what the Bible teaches. Premier Bible scholar Wright goes inside the Scriptures to grasp the full, breathtaking hope Jesus offers the world, and its implications for how people live their lives today as believers.

Surprised by Scripture

Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062230557
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 177

Book Description
A thoughtful and provocative collection, in the vein of the intellectual spiritual classic The Weight of Glory, from N. T. Wright, the influential Bishop, Bible scholar, and bestselling author widely regarded as a modern C. S. Lewis. An unusual combination of scholar, churchman, and leader, N. T. Wright—hailed by Newsweek as “the world’s leading New Testament scholar”—is not only incredibly insightful, but conveys his knowledge in terms that excite and inspire Christian leaders worldwide, allowing them to see the Bible from a fresh viewpoint. In this challenging and stimulating collection of popular essays, sermons, and talks, Wright provide a series of case studies which explore how the Bible can be applied to some of the most pressing contemporary issues facing us, including: Why it is possible to love the Bible and affirm evolution Why women should be allowed to be ordained Where Christians today have lost focus, and why it is important for them to engage in politics—and why that involvement benefits everyone Why the Christian belief in heaven means we should be at the forefront of the environmental movement And much more Helpful, practical, and wise, Surprised by Scripture invites readers to examine their own hearts and minds and presents new models for understanding how to affirm the Bible in today’s world—as well as new ideas and renewed energy for deepening our faith and engaging with the world around us.

Revelation

Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 0830821996
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 129

Book Description
Under the guidance of one of the world's leading New Testament scholars, you and your small group will here discover that the bizarre images of Revelation conceal one of Scripture's clearest and most dramatic visions of God's plan for creation.

John

Author: Jean Calvin
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781856840958
Category : Bible
Languages : en
Pages : 473

Book Description
This Crossway Classic Commentary capsulizes the basics of the faith, including Christ's nature and the profound meaning of His presence and works on earth.

Lent for Everyone

Author: N. T. Wright
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN: 0664238955
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 140

Book Description
From one of the world's leading scholars and Christian writers, stirring reflections for Lent.

Lazarus Awakening

Author: Joanna Weaver
Publisher: WaterBrook
ISBN: 030773059X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 258

Book Description
Now includes a bonus chapter! For many of us, moving the truth of God’s love from our heads to our hearts is a lifelong process. You believe that God loves the world… but sometimes you wonder if He truly loves you. In Lazarus Awakening, the final book in her life-changing Bethany trilogy, Joanna Weaver invites you to experience a divine shift in how you view your relationship with God. Shattering spiritual formulas for performance-driven faith, Lazarus Awakening clears a path to sweet intimacy with Jesus. You’ll encounter the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in a fresh way as you open your heart to the truth that you are cherished—apart from anything you accomplish, apart from anything you bring. Just as He called Lazarus forth to new life, Jesus wants to free you to live fully in the light of His love, unhindered by fear, regret, or self-condemnation. This edition includes: • a bible study guide for both individual reflection and group discussion • a bonus chapter on laying aside everything that hinders your life with Jesus • tools and resources for living fully and freely as God’s beloved No more graveclothes, no more tombs… Love is calling your name.

It's Not Supposed to Be This Way

Author: Lysa TerKeurst
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 0718039866
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 289

Book Description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER What do you do when God’s timing seems questionable, his lack of intervention hurtful, and his promises doubtful? Lysa TerKeurst unveils her heart amid shattering circumstances, inviting you to live assured when life doesn't turn out like you expected. Life often looks so very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard for a season, but others shatter us completely. We feel disappointed and disillusioned at best and overwhelmed and hopeless at worst. We quietly start to wonder about the reality of God’s goodness and why he allows us to suffer and experience grief and loss. Lysa TerKeurst understands this deeply. But after many tears, godly counseling, and prayerful seeking, she's also discovered that our disappointments can be the divine appointments our souls need to radically encounter God. In It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, Lysa invites us into her own journey of faith and, with grit, vulnerability, and honest humor, helps us to: Stop being pulled into the anxiety of disappointment by discovering how to better process unmet expectations and other painful situations. Train ourselves to recognize the three strategies of the enemy, so we can stand strong and persevere through unsettling relationships and uncertain outcomes. Discover the secret of being steadfast and not panicking when God actually does give us more than we can handle. Shift our suspicion that God is cruel or unfair to the biblical assurance that God is protecting and preparing us. Know how to encourage a friend and help her navigate hard realities with real help from God's truth, the Bible. Look for additional biblically based resources and devotionals from Lysa: Good Boundaries and Goodbyes Forgiving What You Can't Forget Uninvited You're Going to Make It Embraced Seeing Beautiful Again