Justin S. Holcomb

In every generation, the Christian church must interpret and restate its bedrock beliefs, answering the challenges and concerns of the day. This accessible overview walks readers through centuries of creeds, councils, catechisms, and confessions—not with a dry focus on dates and places, but with an emphasis on the living tradition of Christian belief and why it matters for our lives today. As a part of the KNOW series, Know the Creeds and Councils is designed for personal study or classroom use, but also for small groups and Sunday schools wanting to more deeply understand the foundations of the faith. This book has everything you need for a full personal or group study experience. Includes individual access to 15 streaming video sessions that cover a key statement of faith along with a discussion of its historical context, a simple explanation of the statement’s content and key points, reflections on contemporary and ongoing relevance, and discussion questions. An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don’t need to buy a DVD!)Sessions and video run times:1 - Introduction (13 min)2 - Apostles' Creed (20 min)3 - Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed (23 min)4 - Councils of Ephesus (22 min)5 - Council of Chalcedon (16 min)6 - Athanasian Creed (18 min)7 - Councils of Constantinople (15 min)8 - Councils of Carthage and Orange (19 min)9 - Council of Trent (19 min)10 - Heidelberg Catechism (17 min)11 - Thirty-nine Articles of Religion (17 min)12 - Westminster Confession of Faith (13 min)13 - Second Vatican Council (15 min)14 - Modern Confessions: Lausanne Covenant and Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (22 min)15 - Conclusion (8 min)Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after January 14, 2030. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Know the Heretics provides an accessible travel guide to the most significant heresies throughout Christian history. There is a lot of talk about heresy these days. The frequency and volume of accusations suggest that some Christians have lost a sense of the gravity of the word, while others have little familiarity with orthodox doctrine or the historic distortions of it. This book has everything you need for a full video study experience. The book itself, covering 12 different heresies, along with reflections on contemporary relevance and discussion questions. An individual access code to stream all video teaching sessions online for a deeper learning experience. (You don’t need to buy a DVD!) As a part of the KNOW series, this book is designed for personal study or classroom use, but also for small groups and Sunday schools wanting to more deeply understand the foundations of the faith. Sessions and video run times:1 - Introduction: Why Heresy? (7 min)2 - Judaizers: The Old Rules Still Apply (25 min)3 - Gnostics: God Hides Messages for the Enlightened (18 min)4 - Marcion: Vengeful Yahweh versus Gentle Jesus (20 min)5 - Docetists: The Spiritual Is Good, the Physical Is Evil (14 min)6 - Mani: God Must Be Freed (16 min)7 - Sabellius: One Actor and Three Hats (18 min) 8 - Arius: Jesus Is a Lesser God (16 min)9 - Apollinarius: Christ May Be Human, but His Mind Is Divine (11 min)10 - Pelagius: God Has Already Given Us the Tools (16 min)11 - Eutyches: Christ as a New Kind of Being (13 min)12 - Nestorius: Christ's Divinity Must Be Shielded (16 min)13 - Socinus: The Trinity Is Irrelevant and Jesus's Death Is Only an Example (18 min)14 - Conclusion (7 min)Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after January 14, 2030. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

"Where do babies come from?" This common question all too often leaves parents perplexed about what to say and when to say it. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb tackle this tough question in a common sense, biblical way. They help parents start the conversation with their children about sex by giving them the basic tools to guide them--including specific biblical content and age-appropriate ways of talking to children at different stages. The Holcombs, along with illustrator Trish Mahoney, have been helping parents tackle difficult but important subjects with children for many years, beginning with the award-winning God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies as well as God Made Me in His Image: Helping Children Appreciate Their Bodies. Now they bring their expertise to the all-important conversation about sex in God Made Babies: Helping Parents Answer the Baby Question. Instead of leaving this conversation to "experts" or to the culture, they equip parents to answer questions about sex in the right way at the right time. Drawing from the story of creation and how God made the living world to reproduce, God Made Babies helps children to understand the gift of reproduction in the light of God's goodness and care. Rather than waiting to have this conversation with their child at the "perfect" time, the authors encourage parents to answer questions at every stage with just the right amount of information. God Made Babies is part of the God Made Me Series which equips parents to have important, impactful conversations with their children, helping them to grow in understanding of God, themselves, and others. Each book in the series contains a special section just for parents and caregivers that provides biblical guidance and offers additional information and resources for talking about the topic addressed in the story.

Spend a year with classic Christian authors, theologians, and pastors Each engaging entry in this 365-day devotional will bring fresh insight to your time in God's Word. Selected from the works of classic Christian writers, this collection is focused on the person and work of Christ. It has been lightly edited for today's reader while maintaining the overall style and structure of the original material. Each day begins with a passage from Scripture that focuses on Jesus Christ, followed by a brief reflection from an author or theologian exploring the Scripture's significance. The devotions contain writings from John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, J. C. Ryle, Herman Bavinck, B. B. Warfield, Martin Luther, Augustine, Cyril of Jerusalem, Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzus, Thomas Aquinas, and more. Let God with Us bring you a daily dose of powerful insights from classic writers while drawing you ever closer to our Lord and Savior.

Bodies can be confusing and sometimes embarrassing to children. But with this simply told, beautifully illustrated children's book by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb, parents can teach kids the truth about how God made their bodies in his image--and the human body is good. One day, a group of students and their teacher travel to a zoo safari park to learn all about the different animals. During a fun jeep ride around the park, the guide shares fascinating information about lions, rhinoceroses, elephants, buffalo, and more, pointing out distinctive characteristics and information about each animal's body and how those qualities make the animals special. The teacher helps the children reflect on their own body image and how they were created uniquely in God's image. A part of the God Made Me series, God Made Me in His Image invites young children to ponder the doctrine of creation, learning how God made them in his image and how truth influences the ways they think and feel about their bodies. This powerful, colorful book addresses the topic of body image from a Christian perspective, to help children understand their feelings, provide information about the topic, and offer extensive, practical strategies to parents. Letters and notes to parents or caregivers are included in the back of the book to help facilitate discussion.

Delves into the ancient debate regarding the nature and purpose of the seven sacraments What are the sacraments? For centuries, this question has elicited a lively discussion and among theologians, and a variety of answers that do anything but outline a unified belief concerning these fundamental ritual structures. In this extremely cohesive and well-crafted volume, a group of renowned scholars map the theologies of sacraments offered by key Christian figures from the Early Church through the twenty-first century. Together, they provide a guide to the variety of views about sacraments found throughout Christianity, showcasing the variety of approaches to understanding the sacraments across the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox faith traditions. Chapters explore the theologies of thinkers from Basil to Aquinas, Martin Luther to Gustavo Gutiérrez. Rather than attempting to distill their voices into a single view, the book addresses many of the questions that theologians have tackled over the two thousand year history of Christianity. In doing so, it paves the way for developing theologies of sacraments for present and future contexts. The text places each theology of the sacraments into its proper sociohistorical context, illuminating how the church has used the sacraments to define itself and its congregations over time. The definitive resource on theologies of the sacraments, this volume is a must-read for students, theologians, and spiritually interested readers alike.

Delves into the ancient debate regarding the nature and purpose of the seven sacraments What are the sacraments? For centuries, this question has elicited a lively discussion and among theologians, and a variety of answers that do anything but outline a unified belief concerning these fundamental ritual structures. In this extremely cohesive and well-crafted volume, a group of renowned scholars map the theologies of sacraments offered by key Christian figures from the Early Church through the twenty-first century. Together, they provide a guide to the variety of views about sacraments found throughout Christianity, showcasing the variety of approaches to understanding the sacraments across the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox faith traditions. Chapters explore the theologies of thinkers from Basil to Aquinas, Martin Luther to Gustavo Gutiérrez. Rather than attempting to distill their voices into a single view, the book addresses many of the questions that theologians have tackled over the two thousand year history of Christianity. In doing so, it paves the way for developing theologies of sacraments for present and future contexts. The text places each theology of the sacraments into its proper sociohistorical context, illuminating how the church has used the sacraments to define itself and its congregations over time. The definitive resource on theologies of the sacraments, this volume is a must-read for students, theologians, and spiritually interested readers alike.

"A tremendous resource for those wanting to study and teach the Bible with an understanding of how the gospel is woven throughout Scripture." —Bryan Chapell, Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God’s Word. These 12-week studies lead participants through books of the Bible and are made up of four basic components: (1) reflection questions help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) “Gospel Glimpses” highlight the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) “Whole-Bible Connections” show how any given passage connects to the Bible’s overarching story of redemption, culminating in Christ; and (4) “Theological Soundings” identify how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God’s grace on every page of the Bible. The book of Ecclesiastes powerfully conveys the meaninglessness of life without God. The world promises fulfillment, but in the end, it cannot truly satisfy the longings of the human heart. In this accessible study, Justin S. Holcomb helps Christians understand the necessity of fearing God in a fallen and frustrating world, pointing us to God’s ultimate mission to restore creation from the curse through the power of the gospel.

God Made All of Me by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb is an invaluable resource and beautifully illustrated story to help families talk about sensitive issues with two- to eight-year-old children. Because the private parts of our bodies are private, home is the ideal environment for a child to learn about his or her body and how it should be treated by others--without conveying a message of shame. Through carefully written language and relatable storytelling, God Made All of Me helps parents navigate discussion that can so easily be warped into confusion, embarrassment, and secrecy. Instead of instilling a message that their bodies are shameful--which can often prevent children from recognizing and reporting sexual abuse--Justin and Lindsey Holcomb equip parents to build a first line of defense against sexual abuse in the safety of their own homes. This helpful guide starts from the fundamental truth that God created everything and applies that truth--the doctrine of creation--to kids and their bodies. With the help of God Made All of Me, parents and caregivers can begin conversations with boys and girls about their bodies, helping kids understand the difference between the appropriate and inappropriate touch of others. This life-changing resource shows readers how to establish the foundation for a healthy bond with their children to meet increasing challenges of sexuality, which they will inevitably confront in childhood and adolescence. By teaching their children how to establish body and health boundaries, parents are imparting invaluable skills for their kids to express thoughts and feelings. God Made All of Me is the first children's book written by Rid of My Disgrace authors, Justin and Lindsey Holcomb. Parents of young children themselves, the Holcombs are profoundly aware of the dangers kids face, and they regularly counsel victims of sexual abuse. Explore God Made All of Me and find encouragement, clear guidance, and the tools necessary to facilitate open conversations about how your children can protect their bodies, an important step in keeping them as safe as possible.

The statistics are jarring. One in four women and one in six men are or will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime. But as sobering as the statistics are, they don't begin to speak to the darkness and grief experienced by these victims. Because sexual assault causes physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain, victims need clear help, hope, and healing. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb's acclaimed book, Rid of My Disgrace (Crossway Books, 2011), offered a new vision of how the grace of God can heal the broken and restore the disgraced. When Rid of My Disgrace was published, it exposed many Christians to the horrors of sexual abuse and assault for the first time. It enabled many who have been victimized to finally seek help and hope within the framework of their faith. Rid of My Disgrace was a gift to these men and women and all the people who seek to come alongside them in their journey toward healing. But Rid of My Disgrace forced us--as a church--to ask ourselves further questions. How can our churches become a safe place to talk about abuse? Can we participate somehow in the healing of the men and women among us who have been abused? This brand new Rid of My Disgrace Small Group Discussion Guide answers our collective questions, bringing healing and hope into the safety of the faith community. Download the free leader's material for additional helps in guiding your group through the process of facing, acknowledging, and beginning to heal from sexual trauma.

The statistics are jarring. One in four women and one in six men are or will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime. But as sobering as the statistics are, they don’t begin to speak to the darkness and grief experienced by these victims. Because sexual assault causes physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain, victims need clear help, hope, and healing. In Rid of My Disgrace, a couple experienced in counseling victims of sexual assault explains how the grace of God can heal the broken and restore the disgraced. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb outline an approach for moving from destruction to redemption. While avoiding platitudes and shallow theology, Rid of My Disgrace combines biblical and theological depth with up-to-date research. This book is primarily written for those who have been assaulted (either as children or adults) but also equips family, friends, pastors, and others to care for victims in ways that are compassionate, practical, and informed.