Derwin Gray

In a time where corruption and confusion have led many to deconstruct or leave the Church entirely, discover the ancient creed that casts a beautiful vision to help you reconstruct your faith and draw you home. The Church today has lost its way. We've pursued the wrong priorities, put our hope in personalities, and elevated popularity over spiritual maturity. And it's not just the Church that's lost; we are too. As culture wars rage and competing voices argue, many Christians are left asking a basic question, What's a Christian, anyway? Pastor and theologian Glenn Packiam digs back into ancient Christianity to a time like ours to show you the Nicene Creed and discover how you can return to the living heart of what it means to be a Christian. In What's a Christian, Anyway? you will:Discover how the Creed--born in an ancient time of controversy, confusion, and disunity much like today--is not just a statement of beliefs, but a rope to lead us homeExperience an invitation into the mystery and wonder of God through these ancient wordsRediscover a path to becoming faithful witnesses to the way of Jesus as we learn to live into the Creed's beautiful story, stunning hope, and powerful vision of what a Christian is The world yearns for Christ's joy, peace, and hope, but the gospel is only believable if Christians live like it's true. Join this adventure into the heart of authentic Christianity, and rediscover for yourself the fresh, timeless power of our Creed and return to the living heart of what it means to be a Christian.

Every single person hungers for divine love--even if they don't know it. So why do we find it so hard to share the healing work of Christ? If you've longed to share your Christian faith authentically but found fear holding you back, you are not alone. Many of us long to make a meaningful impact for Christ in our communities but feel inadequate, awkward, and afraid of accidentally causing offense. How can we communicate the life-giving invitation of Jesus in a better way? In Lit Up with Love, Dr. Derwin Gray provides a guide for sharing the Gospel with authenticity and love. Uncover the true motivation behind sharing your faith--the boundless love of God for humanity and His desire for reconciliation. Learn how to communicate the invitation of Jesus to a hurting world, and discover how to manage the tension of fear while sharing Christ's love in an authentic way--by embracing and living out the love you've received from Jesus and sharing it with others. Lit Up with Love will empower you to share your faith through: Love-Powered Evangelism: Rather than employ fear-based approaches or pressure tactics, emphasize the infinite love of God and his desire for reconciliationA Holistic Approach: Understand that evangelism is a way of life, a living testimony to what Jesus has done for us, not a one-time event and learn how to integrate evangelism and discipleship. A Church Implementation Kit: Equipped with practical downloadable assets, this book empowers churches to apply its principles and embark on a transformative evangelism movement. The more we are lit up with love, the more we will share Christ and the hope that he brings. Whether you're a seasoned follower of Jesus or just starting on your journey, Lit Up with Love will empower you to become a beacon of light in a world desperate for love and belonging.

Noted Attorney and Seminary Graduate Matthew T. Martens Answers the Question: Does the Design and Operation of the American Criminal Justice System Reflect Christian Love of Neighbor? Jesus told his followers that the entirety of the Old Testament’s law is encapsulated in the commands to love God and to love their neighbors as themselves. In Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal, Matthew T. Martens argues that love of neighbor must be the animating force for true reformation of the criminal justice system, obligating us to seek the best for both the criminally victimized and the criminally accused. Using his theological training Martens reveals how Scripture provides several guideposts (accuracy, due process, accountability, impartiality, and proportionality) for loving our neighbors as it relates to criminal justice. Then, drawing on his near quarter century practicing criminal law, he examines how America’s justice system falls short of the biblical standard. By understanding how our current system operates and considering how love of neighbor relates to issues of crime and justice, we will be better equipped to seek true Christian reform of the justice system. A Biblical Perspective on Criminal Justice: Offers a biblical framework for thinking about the concept of justice for both the victim and the perpetrator Examines the History of the American Criminal Justice System: Surveys the evolution of the criminal justice system in the United States with a focus on its misuse from the time of the Civil War to the civil rights movement Assesses the Criminal Justice System: Examines the operation of the American justice system today, including plea bargains, assistance of counsel, the death penalty, and more Foreword by Derwin L. Gray: Pastor of Transformation Church in Indian Land, South Carolina, and the author of How to Heal Our Racial Divide and Building a Multiethnic Church

In our self-help, DIY culture, we love the idea of improvement. We make-over wardrobes and restore houses and commit ourselves to better habits. But we're still left feeling empty and not-quite-enough. That's because what we need is not an upgrade but a complete upending of our lives. We need to be reborn. And it's not something we can do by ourselves. With deep compassion, Clayton King shares the compelling stories of 12 broken people who came face-to-face with Jesus in the New Testament and got a second chance at life. A respected religious leader, an ostracized woman, a despised embezzler, a condemned thief--all of them flawed, sinful, full of regret--encountered Jesus and were never the same. Along with their stories, King shares contemporary stories of people struggling with addiction, lust, greed, and depression, showing that Jesus still meets people right where they are and changes them from the inside out. If you're tired of going through the religious motions by your own power and long to experience the radical life and heart change that Jesus promised, it's time for an encounter with Jesus. It's time to be reborn.

"...an inspiring read from beginning to end." -Midwest Book Review Includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter Foreword by Derwin Gray, founding pastor of Transformation Church and former NFL player. What if asking Jesus into our hearts is not the heart of the gospel? In By the Way, pastor and author Derek Vreeland reframes everything we've been told about Christianity and what it means to follow Jesus. Discipleship isn't an add-on. Jesus didn't say, Go into all the world and get people saved or Get people to ask me into their hearts. Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples. Reclaiming discipleship as the heart of the Christian faith means seeing anew the gospel, the cross, the resurrection, transformation, and the community of faith. We learn the ways of Jesus by practicing them, Vreeland says, and in By the Way, he introduces us to the ways of Jesus. Discipleship means joining God's joyful mission of reconciliation on earth, not just saving souls for the afterlife. Following Jesus is more like taking a long walk in the woods than sitting in a classroom. Living by the Way takes practice--and that's the point.

Includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter Foreword by Derwin Gray, founding pastor of Transformation Church and former NFL player. What if asking Jesus into our hearts is not the heart of the gospel? In By the Way, pastor and author Derek Vreeland reframes everything we've been told about Christianity and what it means to follow Jesus. Discipleship isn't an add-on. Jesus didn't say, Go into all the world and get people saved or Get people to ask me into their hearts. Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples. Reclaiming discipleship as the heart of the Christian faith means seeing anew the gospel, the cross, the resurrection, transformation, and the community of faith. We learn the ways of Jesus by practicing them, Vreeland says, and in By the Way, he introduces us to the ways of Jesus. Discipleship means joining God's joyful mission of reconciliation on earth, not just saving souls for the afterlife. Following Jesus is more like taking a long walk in the woods than sitting in a classroom. Living by the Way takes practice--and that's the point.