Showing titles in Holidays

For centuries, Christians have turned to the story and message of John the Baptist in the weeks leading up to Christmas. In Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist, bestselling author and pastor Adam Hamilton explores the Advent themes of John's life and ministry, and how John calls all followers of Jesus to prepare our hearts for his coming.

Pentecost may well be the most misconstrued day on the church calendar. A long legacy of cessationism has drained Pentecost of much of its significance, and it's largely misunderstood in many Western churches today, if not outright ignored. That's not the case in Emilio Alvarez's tradition, though. In this Fullness of Time volume, the Pentecostal bishop and theologian offers us a rich biblical and theological introduction to the day of Pentecost and sets it in its liturgical context.

24 Weihnachtsgeschichten, die zu Herzen gehen. Mal humorvoll-heiter, mal besinnlich und nachdenklich erzählen die Autorinnen und Autoren vom Fest der Hoffnung, dass Jesus Mensch wurde, um uns zu retten. Lassen Sie sich mit hineinnehmen in das Geschehen der Heiligen Nacht und spüren Sie dem Wunder aller Wunder nach. Mit Geschichten von Elisabeth Büchle, Ursula Schröder, Anneli Klipphahn, Hannelore Schnapp, Kirsten Brünjes, Oliver Helmers und vielen anderen – meisterhaft gelesen von Philipp Schepmann, Hannah Schepmann und Friedemann Schmidt.

Jesus came to lift up the lowly. Throughout his ministry to his final days on the road to the cross, we find stories of his relationships with ordinary, flawed, and unexpected people. He met, dined, and traveled with people who were not perfect. Many of them were struggling, some were outsiders or even outlaws. Whoever they were, from those he healed to the outlaws with him at his crucifixion, Jesus brought the good news of God's kingdom to those who most needed to hear it. Adam Hamilton explores the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Luke.

"Lent is inescapably about repenting." Every year, the church invites us into a season of repentance and fasting in preparation for Holy Week. It's an invitation to turn away from our sins and toward the mercy and grace of Christ. Often, though, we experience the Lenten fast as either a mindless ritual or self-improvement program. In this short volume, priest and scholar Esau McCaulley introduces the season of Lent, showing us how its prayers and rituals point us not just to our own sinfulness but also beyond it to our merciful Savior.

Wir alle lieben Weihnachten. Es gibt all die schönen Bräuche, Rituale aus den verschiedensten Ländern und natürlich die besondere Liebe zum Weihnachtsbaum! Aber: Warum hängen Weihnachtsbäume manchmal verkehrt herum von der Decke? Wieso ist Weihnachten in manchen Ländern verboten? Und überhaupt: Wer bäckt dem Christkind eigentlich die Geburtstagstorte? Dieses Buch ist ein ganz besonderes Weihnachtsbuch.

The ambitious radio series, The Greatest Story Ever Told— based on the book of the same name by Fulton Oursler—came to ABC in the 1940s with a full orchestra and 16-voice chorus. The series dramatized the life and times of Jesus Christ—"the greatest life ever lived"—and was the first radio series to simulate the voice of Christ as a continuing character.

Heaven and Nature Sing invites you into a fresh interpretation of the Christmas story—one where earthy, overlooked things like snowflakes, trees, serpents, bodies, and swaddling bands reveal the glory of the Promised Son. Journeying from the first pages of Scripture to the last, you’ll experience the goodness of our Creator King and learn how the whole earth sings his praise.

Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday’s Traditions reveals the surprising, quirky, mysterious, and sometimes horrifying stories behind the most wonderful time of the year.

Delight in God’s wonderful gifts of grace with this Advent devotional for Christmas. Just as with opening the doors of an Advent calendar day by day, this Advent devotional will build your anticipation for Christmas so that you can fully absorb and enjoy its central gift—Jesus Christ. Reflecting on a few short verses each day, this devotional examines the wonderful gifts of grace that we receive through the coming of Christ and belief in his gospel.

Bestselling author Michael Foley dives deep into the history of Christmas and the customs that surround this beloved holiday. Learn about the fascinating origins of your favorite Christmas food, drink, observances, and songs. Discover how Saint Nicolas, a fourth-century Catholic bishop, became Santa Clause and who Santa’s global competitors are (some of them will shock you). And dig into the forbidden history of the Yuletide season’s dark and ghoulish side.

The book features one carol for each day from December first to Christmas Eve and presents both the lyrics and the fascinating stories and interesting facts behind the creation of the songs. Each entry deepens our understanding of the music and enhances our appreciation of why these songs are culturally important and dearly treasured. From popular, familiar carols to lesser known but cherished hymns, author Michael D. Young combines his musical expertise with information specific to each song.

In Witness at the Cross, Amy-Jill Levine shows how the people at the cross each have distinct roles to play. Each Evangelist presents a distinct picture of the death of Jesus. Each portrays different individuals and groups of people at the cross, each offers different images and dialogues, and so from each, we learn how those meanings and messages cross the centuries to any who would come to the cross today.

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus gave them this prayer. He likely taught it to his followers often, not just one time. He never intended the Lord's Prayer to be a museum piece, placed on a mantel. It was Jesus teaching God's people, through his disciples, how to pray. In The Lord's Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught, Adam Hamilton guides us to really know—and really pray—the Lord's Prayer. He explores each of its rich lines and their meaning in the Bible, illuminating what we ask of God and what we ask of ourselves through its words.

This entry of the Eyewitness Bible Series explores the birth of Jesus and is designed to be listened to on the three Sundays prior to Christmas week, plus the seven days of Christmas week, ending on Christmas Day. Each segment is told from the perspective of a different individual: the prophet Isaiah, a Magi, Elizabeth, Mary's mother, Mary, Joseph, a tax collector, King Herod, a shepherd, and an angel.

In these days of pandemic, war and political turbulence, hope can seem to be in short supply. But hope is one of the theological virtues, and it is far more profound than mere optimism. Teresa White in this Lent Book draws on inspiration from writers as diverse as Julian of Norwich and Karl Rahner, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and Henri Nouwen, but throughout the audiobook there is strong scriptural underpinning that the author uses to great effect.

Every December, a huge Christmas tree arrives in Trafalgar Square. Bedecked in lights, it is a shimmering, festive beacon in the heart of London. But even more enchanting than the twinkling decorations and scented pine is the story behind the tree; a story of loyalty, friendship and resistance. On a cold evening in 1940, German warships made their way towards Oslo. It seemed inevitable that Norway, like so many other European nations, would soon submit to the Nazi regime. But the country's indomitable King Haakon VII refused to surrender.

Come, let us adore him. This beloved Advent refrain captures the heart of the season. Advent is for adoring Jesus. It is a season of preparation to ready our hearts for the glory of Christmas Day as we celebrate the coming of the eternal God in our frail humanity. These 25 short devotional readings from John Piper aim to help you keep Christ at the center of the Advent season.

For years, Marianne Williamson has been offering weekly lectures based on A Course in Miracles. These lectures are profound, insightful, and compelling with an always-relevant message.

Christmas is one of the most joyful times of year, and it can also be one of the most stressful. It comes laden with expectations and, for many, overshadowed by difficult memories and emotions. If every other day of the year has us running in different directions, driven by the bleeping demands of our phones and devices, Christmas makes us run faster still.