Showing results by narrator "David Heath" in All Categories

It should come as no surprise that misunderstandings about the gospel message and the nature of true conversion result in a problem with genuine assurance of salvation. A pseudo-gospel of easy believism has led many into careless presumption, and a poor understanding of salvation has abandoned tender consciences to near spiritual despair.

Christian organizations have come to be known mostly for what we're against. And all too often, that includes being against each other. But amid growing distrust of religious institutions, Christ-centered nonprofits have a unique opportunity to link arms and collectively pursue a calling higher than any one organization's agenda. Rooting for Rivals reveals how your ministry can multiply its impact by cooperating rather than competing with others, modeling Christlike love and generosity in the process. 

Two hundred and fifty years later, Jonathan Edwards, America’s consummate pastor-theologian, continues to capture the attention of Christians around the world. Yet Edwards left us over 1,200 sermons and thousands of pages of other publications, not to mention the literal thousands of books that have been written about Edwards since he died. The Essential Jonathan Edwards serves as a perfect introduction to Edwards’s life and thought. It explores Edwards day-to-day life, and his views on beauty, true Christianity, heaven and hell, and the good life. 

The best stories about one of golf's most endearing courses, Pinehurst in North Carolina. Pinehurst, a pinpoint on the map of North Carolina, is a 100-year-old course beloved by all true golf fans. In Pinehurst, golf is more than a game; it’s a way of life. In Tales From Pinehurst, readers will experience historical tales and lore from those that have witnessed the growth of one of golf’s most endearing playing fields - from the infamous Donald Ross creation No. 2 course, which has baffled professional golfers for decades, to the US Opens it has hosted.

A plumb line and a basket of ripe fruit: two things the prophet Amos sees in visions. But what could these things symbolize? Listen to Amos, a lowly shepherd, as he warns the wealthy and religious Israelites about their idolatry and injustice to the poor. Could God be giving this prophet signs of the coming judgment?

God’s providence always comes through, even in the worst of situations. This is something we learn in the life of Queen Esther. A woman of strength and humility, Queen Esther endures the struggles that come with living a life of obedience to God. She knows that God’s hand is on her and that His plans are not moved, not even by the actions of evil men.

To rescue a missing noble, Artek the Knife must venture deep into the Undermountain, a vast and lethal labyrinth created by a crazed wizard, a place that is not only difficult and dangerous to access but nearly impossible to escape.

In Many Are Called, Dr. Scott Hahn, one of the most celebrated scholars and influential Catholic writers living today, enthusiastically encourages Catholics around the world to renew their focus on the sacred role of the Catholic priest. Using his unique ability to present deep spiritual and theological ideas in the language of everyday life, Dr. Hahn examines the biblical and historical roots of the priesthood to explain the centrality of the priest in the life of the Church.

War cares little for the troubles of the aristocracy. As a terrible new weapon obliterates the age of courtly battle, an intelligent but plain princess and her companions--an addled young inventor and a kleptomaniac firebird--find themselves forced into a battle for survival in a suddenly very deadly world.

This letter was written by Paul while he was imprisoned Rome. The apostle is experiencing persecution for his faith but this is no surprise to him, nor is it stealing his hope.

This letter was written by Paul while he was imprisoned Rome. The apostle was experiencing persecution for his faith, but this was no surprise to him, nor was it stealing his hope. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). He was writing this letter to encourage Timothy, his coworker, to be strong in the Lord in spite of suffering. He called on him to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, as we should all strive to be ourselves.

The lives of many believers rarely escape the tight orbits that circle around their own schedules, their own interests. The familiar gravity of familiar places. But the trajectory of our faith should be one that’s continually cycling outward, fueled by a mission and message that God first brought within reach of us, so that we can now join with Him in taking it within reach of others. Authors Daniel L. Akin and Bruce Riley Ashford are calling today’s church members to lives of going—whether going around the world or to people right where they live—going out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians, Paul gives us a detailed description of Church members' relationship to Christ. The apostle is writing to strengthen the churches of Ephesus. He tells them, "In him [Jesus] you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:22) This reminds us that we are all part of the "body" of Christ, his Church. Listen to Paul, and be encouraged about your role in redemptive history.

In Beauty Will Save the World, Brian Zahnd presents the argument that this loss of beauty as a principal value has been disastrous for Western culture, and especially for the church. The full message of the beauty of the Gospel has been replaced by our desires to satisfy our material needs, to empirically prove our faith, and to establish political power in our world - the exact same things that Christ was tempted with and rejected in the wilderness.  

Humans are prone to amnesia. We easily forget what God has done for us because of an inward focus on ourselves. The Israelites did just this. They forgot about the miraculous things God had done to unite them to Himself. In turn, they abandoned God’s way: “...Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) In Judges, we learn that God keeps His promises despite the sinfulness of His people.

Dr. Peikoff makes a compelling case for a rational system of education by contrasting three approaches to philosophy and the different educational alternatives they propose to replace our present system. He translates the usual abstract discussions in this field into material easily comprehensible to the listener. In the process, he defines a proper methodology and curriculum that will produce thinking high school graduates confident of their ability to achieve their goals.

The gospel is counterintuitive to humans. We are used to earning almost everything in our lives. In the book of Romans, Paul makes it clear that we cannot earn our way to God, in fact, even the “good” deeds we do are like filthy rags before the Lord. Listen to Paul as he teaches us that we are more sinful than we could every imagine, but also more loved than we could ever imagine.

An entire generation of faithless Israelites have come and gone, Moses has just died in the presence of the Lord, and now it’s up to Joshua to lead the Israelites into victory. Journey with Joshua as he faces many obstacles on the quest to capture the Promised Land while remaining completely committed to God.

Giving practical advice for showing hospitality and having a charitable heart toward others, the Apostle John focuses on living life in a way that displays one's love for God. Another vital aspect of this book is John's warnings about false teachers. These individuals "have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 7).

In light of Jesus' second coming, we should not be compelled to hide out until his return; rather, we should be actively participating in his restoration plan for the world as we wait in anticipation. Paul teaches the Thessalonians that the second coming should not paralyze believers from doing work for the kingdom. Instead it should motivate them to live in a way that is pleasing to God. We all have duties to complete before Jesus' return, so we should "...not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thes. 3:13).