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Rules vs. Relationship:

The difference between religion and Christianity

by Julia M. Bruce, MSPC, Mental Health Coach,
Keynote Speaker, CEO, Wellspring Christian Ministries

The Nature of God’s Love

Love is the nature of God. 1 John 4:8 says, “God is love.” It is who He is. God loves you and there is nothing you can do to change it. God loves you and there is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and there is nothing you can do to that will cause God to love you less. You can’t earn his love because God is love. It’s His nature and you can’t change that. And because He loves you, He wants to have a relationship with you.

You Can’t Change the Fact that God Loves You

We all go through moments of life wondering if a parent, spouse, child, or friend loves us. Maybe we did something to disappointment them and the relationships with them was broken and now we doubt how they feel about us now. Maybe that someone you disappointed was God and you find yourself wondering, “How could God possibly love someone like me?”

There are also those who go around trying to do every good work in an effort to get God to love them or to love them more. They pay penance, fast, live moral lives, give to the poor, or any number of things they believe will earn them God’s love. However, the simple fact is God loves you and there is nothing you can do that will cause God to love you more or less.

You Can’t Make God Love You Any Less

Because love is God’s nature, we find that the prophet Jeremiah writes, “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” But God doesn’t just tell us that He loves us. He acted out his love. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Even though God knew that each one of us was born in sin, an enemy of God, God still sent His Son to die and pay the debt of our sin for us. Romans 5:8 says, “But God proves His own love fore us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!” When did God prove His love? When did Christ die for us? While we were still sinners. So there is nothing you can do to make God love you any less.

You Can’t Do Anything to Make God Love you More

Ephesians 2:1-10 tells us that we are dead in our trespasses and sin. But in verses 4-5, Paul wrote, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” It is because of God’s love and grace that He offers you the free gift of salvation. Not anything you have done. There is absolutely nothing you can do that will cause God to love you more. He loves you so much that even when you were a filthy, dirty sinner, He sent His only Son to die for you. Jesus told us in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” There is no greater love than the love of Jesus, who died for you.

Christianity is about a Relationship

There are many religions that tell you you have to do this or that in order to be a Christian. But faith is what sets Christianity apart from religion. Faith in Jesus. Faith that believes He is the Son of God who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cross, was buried for three days and then rose again. And because of that faith we have a relationship with Him. 1 John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” As Christians, we have a relationships with God because Ephesians 5:1 tells us  we were adopted as sons and daughters into the family of God by Jesus Christ for no other reason than because it was according to the good pleasure of His will.

Religion is about Rules

Religion on the other hand is about rules. Some religions will demand a person to pray a certain number of times per day or to fast for a whole month each year.

Another religion says its followers must use separate sinks for preparing dairy and non-dairy foods.

Another religion requires its followers to get up 3 hours before dawn every day to wash and pray.

There is another religion that requires its followers to make an offering at a household shrine 3 times every day.

One religion requires the men to wear special underclothes and when couples of that religion have children, they begin saving for those children because when they become young adults, they are supposed to spend 2 years serving as missionaries to that religion.

And we are all familiar with the religion that requires its follows to spend a certain amount of time each month going door-to-door, sharing their literature and signing people up for their religious studies.

Religious Rules of Jesus’ Day

Rules. Things were no different in Jesus’ day. The religious leaders of His day had developed a religious system with 613 laws. They chose the number 613 because that was how many separate letters were in the text containing the 10 Commandments. They found 613 commandments in the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy). Then they divided the list into affirmative commands (do this) and negative commands (don’t do this).

There were 248 affirmative commands, one for every part of the human body, as they understood it. There were 365 negative commands, one for each day of the year. They further divided the list into binding commands and nonbonding commands. Then they spent their days debating whether the divisions were accurate and ranking the commands within each division. [John MacArther, Matthew 19-23 (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1988), 337-38.]

Religious Rules of Today

We see the same trend happening in Christianity today. There are people who try to add rules to Christianity that are not there. Things like, not eating meat on Fridays, or doing without something for 40 days during Lent. Some folks measure their religious zeal by the length of their skirts, or how long their hair is. Even things like having a quiet time can become a legalistic, religious rule, if you let it.

Jesus isn’t into all of that measuring, one-up-man-ship, and rules. When someone came and tried to get Jesus’ opinion on what the great commandment was, He answered, “Love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Jesus says, “Y’all go around measuring and comparing and think you’re doing well. But all of godly living comes out of these two simple commands.” No wonder Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” You see, religion is about rules.

Christianity is about a relationship

Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.” What does Jesus say, in this verse, was necessary in order to have a relationship with him? You hear Him, and open the door. You hear His voice, and you invite Him into your life.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” My friends, Christians – disciples of Christ – are people who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The disciplines we have in our lives flow out of the relationship we have with, and our love for their Savior. Nothing you do will make God love you any more. Nothing you do will make God love you any less.

The disciplines we practice, we do so because we want to become more like our Savior. Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Relationship. We have a relationship with our Savior which makes us children of God and therefore we have a relationship with our Heavenly Father who loves us with an everlasting love. Not because we earned or deserve it, but because of his lovingkindness, mercy, and grace. As His children, we practice the disciplines of our faith as a joy, not an obligation or to earn His favor.

Has religion become a burden?

If your religion is burden, I invite you to tell Jesus right now that you want a relationship with him.

Admit to Him that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Tell Him that you believe He is God’s Son and that He died on the cross for you, and rose again. John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Confess Jesus as the Lord of your life and commit yourself to a life of following Jesus. Romans 10:9-10 says, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Are you following a religion, or do you have a relationship with God you loves you with an everlasting love?

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The Lord is my Shepherd

Don’t miss the meaning

Most people have at least heard of the 23rd Psalm. Many Christians can quote it. It is the Psalm where David says, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” It is a Psalm that comforts and calms our souls. Often it is read at funerals. President Bush read it to America after 9/11.

However, because of it’s popularity, we can miss it’s meaning. It is somewhat like singing the old hymns in church. We sing them, but we don’t really often stop to take in the depth of their meaning. When I used to lead music in my dad’s church, I could look out at the congregation and the mouths were moving but the words of the songs were often not connecting with their hearts. Can we say we’ve truly worshiped if we just remotely sing? Or would it more appropriately be called “lip service”?

Let’s break down the meaning that the Lord is my Shepherd and see it with new eyes that connect the meaning with our hearts.

The Psalm from the author’s eyes

King David is the author of this Psalm. In our world today, the majority of us don’t get the full meaning of this beautiful psalm because we fail to understand the relationship between the sheep and the shepherd of the Bible. But David knew it well. He was a shepherd before he was a king. In fact, when God sent the prophet, Samuel, to anoint David as king, David was out tending the sheep. So if we really want to understand the beautiful message of this psalm, we need to see it as David did. He knew what it means to shepherd sheep and when he became king of Israel, he learned what it meant to shepherd God’s sheep – the nation of Israel.

All we like sheep

The Bible refers to us as sheep nearly two hundred times. However, it is not usually a compliment because sheep are smelly, stubborn, and prone to wander. They also are not the brightest animal on the block. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way.” (Isaiah 53:6). Like sheep, we are smelly with the filth and stench of sin in our lives. We turn our own way because we stubbornly think we know better than God. So we wander away from God and try to do life our way but then when we make a mess out of life we bleat like a lost sheep looking for the Shepherd to rescue us out of our mess.

The Nutshell Take-away

If we were to sum up this Psalm in just one sentence it would be this: You can’t fully know and understand the Shepherd unless you are one of His sheep. Only once you enter into and have a relationship with the Shepherd can you understand that He provides, protects, and preserves His sheep. In the first three verses of Psalm 23, we find five things the Shepherd provides for His sheep.

If we summed up Psalm 23 into just one sentence, it would be this: You can’t fully know and understand the Shepherd unless you are one of His sheep.

The Shepherd Provides a Relationship

In verse 1, it says, “The Lord is my Shepherd. That’s a relationship. “The Lord” is the Hebrew word, “Yahweh” and it was first revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 which is where Moses has his encounter with God at the burning bush. Moses asked, “Who should I say sent me.” God replied, “Tell them “I AM [Yahweh] has sent you.” So David is saying here, that “I AM” is “my” shepherd.

Verb tense makes a difference

Notice that the verb “is” is present tense, not past or future. It is right now in this moment that God is our shepherd – and you can say that in every moment of life.

Jesus is my only Shepherd

In Israel, shepherding wasn’t the job career that everyone signed up for. It was the lowest, unpleasant job. Sheep require a 24/7 shepherd. They couldn’t be left alone. So they’re had to be a shepherd on duty every moment, in every season, and in every kind of weather. Jesus is just that kind of Shepherd. He never goes off duty. In fact, He never clocks out and trades off with another Shepherd. So not only is He my Shepherd, He’s my only Shepherd.

In Exodus 20:3, we find the very first of the Ten Commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before Me” and in verse 5 God says we are to have no other gods before Him because He is a jealous God. He will not share His place with anyone or anything else. If He is our Lord, there can only be one Lord on the throne and only one Shepherd of our hearts. So, if Jesus is your Savior, He is also your Shepherd – present tense, in every moment of life.

Pronoun choice creates a personal relationship

Let’s also not read too quickly past the pronoun choice David uses. He says that the Lord is my Shepherd. “My” is a possessive personal pronoun. Our Shepherd offers a personal relationship with Him. In the entirety of Psalm 23, David uses “my,” “me,” and “I” 17 times. Because He is with me 24/7 and because I am His creation, He knows me by name. He knows what tends to make me wander and where I can get off track. He knows when I’m hurt, wounded, or in trouble. My Shepherd knows when I’m spiritually hungry and thirsty. He knows when I’m anxious or fearful. And He knows when I need rest and peace. He is my Shepherd and He knows me personally. It’s a relationship.

The Lord, Yahweh, I AM, is my Shepherd. “Is” is a present tense verb, so He is my Shepherd right now in this moment. And “my” is a possessive personal pronoun. He is my Shepherd and He knows me personally. It’s a relationship.

The Shepherd provides Replenishment

Whenever we wander away from the Shepherd we are wandering away from the Bread of Life and the Living Water. We become spiritually hungry. Also, the further away we wander, the more tired we become and we need rest. But sometimes we can be right with the Shepherd and busy doing whatever the Shepherd asks of us and get tired too. Sometimes we are so busy pouring into other people that we need to take a moment, like Mary did, and sit at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to pour into us.

Whenever we wander away from the Shepherd we are wandering away from the Bread of Life and the Living water.

The second part of verse 1 says, “I shall not want.” That is the words of person who has been fully replenished by the Shepherd. If sheep are left to themselves, they can’t even find grass to eat or water to drink. They need a shepherd to lead them. They also need a shepherd to watch over them, because they really are not smart enough to sense when danger is near.

Our Shepherd is also called the Bread of Life and the Living Water. In other Psalms, David calls Him a fortress and strong tower. And in another Psalm David talks about hiding in the shelter of His wings. So our Shepherd replenishes our spiritual hunger and thirst and He provides protection when we can’t see the danger traps that Satan would set out to ensnare us with. So if we’re feeling spiritually hungry and thirsty, we might be wandering too far from the shepherd. Or if we’re feeling anxious and afraid, we may have wandered too far from the Shepherd.

If we’re feeling spiritually hungry and thirsty, we might be wandering too far from the shepherd. Or if we’re feeling anxious and afraid, we may have wandered too far from the Shepherd.

The Shepherd provides Rest

Verse 2 of Psalm 23 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Us stubborn sheep often refuse to rest when we need to. We think we have to keep pushing – keep getting ahead – keep serving God – keep on, and on, and on like the Energizer Bunny. But even the Bunny’s batteries run out eventually.

In the New Testament, Jesus empowered the disciples and sent them out to do ministry in His name. They returned excited, but also weary. In fact, they had been doing so much ministry that they hadn’t even had time to eat. Jesus said, “Come away with me to a deserted place and rest for a while.” (Mark 6:31) Our Shepherd knows when we need rest.

My Shepherd makes me lie down

Again, let’s point out the choice of verbs that David used in verse 2 of Psalm 23. The Shepherd didn’t invite the sheep to rest. The verse says, “He makes.” We are so stubborn that sometimes we have to be forced to slow down and rest. There are many us that for a while now have needed a slower pace in life. In 2020, when we were “social distancing” and “together at home,” we were forced into a time of a slower pace of life. If you’ve been needing some rest, maybe the Shepherd is making you to lie down in green pastures for a while.

My Shepherd makes me lie down in green pastures

If we are going to rest, then there are two things we need: a sense of safety and a comfortable place to lie down. Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down to sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” When a world-wide pandemic is around, it’s easy to become fearful, anxious, worried. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of sound mind. Fear comes from Satan and it keeps us bound up so that we are not effective for the Kingdom of God. But 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.”

Our Shepherd is sovereign. He’s in control. We can trust Him with every single part of our lives. When we trust the Shepherd, we have no need of fear or anxiety. Whenever there is fear or anxiety in our lives, that’s an area where you have wandered away from the Shepherd.

The other thing we need is a comfortable place to lie down. The Shepherd didn’t makes the sheep lie down on a hard, rocky place. He took them to a soft meadow of green grass. It is kind of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. When she decided she needed a nap, she laid down on Papa Bear’s bed and it was too hard. Momma Bear’s bed was too soft. But Baby Bear’s bed was just right and so she fell fast asleep and slept so soundly she didn’t hear the bear family return home. The Shepherd will make us rest, but He knows we need the soft, green meadow that is just right – not too hard and not too soft.

My Shepherd leads me

Once again, I want to point out the choice of verbs that David uses. I find it interesting that David said the Shepherd makes us to lie down in green pastures, but He leads us beside still waters. So I meditated on these two verbs and asked why are we made to lie down in green pastures, but led to still waters.

Sheep need water as much, if not more so, as rest. So with a little googling, I learned that sheep are afraid of moving water and they will not drink from it. So the Shepherd leads them to a still, quiet pool so they will drink. The Shepherd also has to make sure that the water they drink is safe to drink – that it isn’t polluted and full of parasites. How often do we wander away from the Shepherd and drink from waters polluted with the parasites of sin? We need the Shepherd to lead us so that the water we are drinking from is the pure water that comes from the Living Water.

My Shepherd leads me beside still waters

I don’t know about you, but when I sleep, I need “white noise.” Some people like to go to sleep with the sounds of nature, such as a rain storm or gurgling brook, or the ebb and flow of the waves of the ocean. I’ve tried all of those and I just end up getting up and down with trips to the bathroom. I’m also of an age where I have “personal summers” or “power surges” whatever you want to call it and so I sleep with a fan on. I also have an app on my phone called Abide where I can choose Bedtime Meditation stories based on Scripture.

Without these two things, I have a hard time getting to sleep. My mind is constantly planning the next post, or planning the next ministry opportunity, or creating the next idea, or the next chapter in the next book. So these “background noises” help me focus my mind on Christ, my Shepherd, and He leads me beside the calm, still waters so that I can drift off to sleep.

The Shepherd makes us lie down in green pastures when we need rest but he leads us beside the still waters. We need to be led to the pure water of the Living Water so we are not drinking from water polluted by sin.

The Shepherd provides Restoration and makes us New

Sheep are careless, curious, and cantankerous. The are often in need of being restored. So we find in verse three that the Shepherd “restores my soul.” If we restore an antique piece of furniture, we bring it back to what it was originally like when it was first created. We revive it to it’s former state and renew it so it looks like new. When David wrote about restoring His soul, he was talking about repentance. Who else would understand the need of repentance more than a King who had been guilty of both adultery and murder? It is through repentance of our careless, curious, and cantankerous sins that we find restoration with the Shepherd and we are renewed and revived spiritually. But our shepherd takes our restoration a step farther. He restores us into a relationship with Himself.

Because of sin, we were separated from God. But our shepherd tenderly and lovingly paid the price for our sins and when we accept by faith His free gift of salvation offered by his grace, he doesn’t just restore us, He makes us a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Who else would understand the need of repentance more than a King who was guilty of both adultery and murder? It is through repentance of our careless, curious, and cantankerous sins that we find restoration with the Shepherd.

The Shepherd provides Refuge and Protection

Also, because sheep are prone to wander, they can easily become lost or find themselves in danger. They can fall or become a victim to a predator. Sometimes a sheep will roll over on its back, feet flailing in the air, and they are not able to roll back over again. This is called being “cast down.” When this happens gas builds up inside of them, cutting off their circulation in their legs, and they die within just a matter of hours. When the Shepherd finds a sheep that is cast down, he rolls it back over and lifts it up to its feet. He then straddles the sheep and begins rubbing it’s legs to restore circulation, while talking to it gently to try to calm it from its panicked state.

The Shepherd Is Tenderly Calling

When we wander from our Shepherd and are rolling around in our sin, cast down, the Shepherd tenderly calls out our name. He picks us up and sets us back on our feet and restores us to the fold once more. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve strayed. A heart of repentance is all that’s needed to bring about restoration. And then, back in the fold, you’ll once again enjoy the personal relationship with the Shepherd, be replenished, find rest for your weary soul and the restoration of His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Is He tenderly calling for you today?

The Shepherd tenderly calls us whenever we wander. A heart of repentance will bring about restoration so we can enjoy the personal relationship with the Shepherd, be replenished, and find rest. Is He tenderly calling for you today?

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Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

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We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

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The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

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Known, Loved, Worthy, Enough, Chosen

Every day we can be bombarded with negative and hurtful words. Sometimes, they come from others and other times its what we tell ourselves. Instead of listening to those words, listen to what your Savior says about you: You are known, loved, worthy, enough, chosen, and a child of God.

Known Loved Worthy Enough Chosen Child of God

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

  • Revive Us Again, Lord

Canvas art and posters are available in the Teespring store. Many of our Christian Tees are also available at Teespring.

New in the Teespring Store: All Things New

All Things New

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.

When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints


Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

Click here for the Contemporary Christian Playlist
Click here for the Southern Gospel Playlist
Or Click here for the Hymns Playlist

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel


God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
  • Conversation Starters.
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
  • Romance Builders.
  • Relationship Builders.
  • Personal reflections.
  • Date ideas.
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

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Check out the products below or click any of the links to go to CBD, and browse all the products.

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At Christianbook Distributors you will find Bible studies, books, gifts, and more to help you grow your faith and often at discounted prices from other places.


Our organization receives an 8% commission on any item you purchase through these links. However, the product price is the same for you. There is no increase in your cost for us to receive the commission. All commissions received support the work and ministry of Wellspring Christian Ministries. Enter the site through any of the links below and browse the online store. Any item you purchase through one of our links will qualify for us to receive the commission.

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Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today's Culture, Bible Study Book  -     By: Jackie Hill Perry
Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture, Bible Study Book
By Jackie Hill Perry / Lifeway

While often overlooked, the Book of Jude remains as relevant today as the time it was written. God has commanded His beloved church to do the necessary work of contending for the faith in a world of unbelief, and as we do, He will keep us from falling into the same deception.
 
In this 7-session study from Jackie Hill Perry, dive into themes of being called, loved, and kept, and learn how to point others to Jesus in grace and truth. We serve others well when we share the whole gospel with them, not just the parts deemed attractive by our culture.

When God Doesn't Fix It Study Guide with DVD  -     By: Laura Story
When God Doesn’t Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Without
By Laura Story with Jennifer Schuchmann / W Publishing

Grammy Award-winning songwriter Story had a fairy-tale life—until her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Can blessings arise from broken dreams? Tackling common myths about God and hardship, she examines what happens when life doesn’t turn out as we expect—and offers assurance that although our situation may never get better, we can grow because of it. 224 pages, softcover from Nelson.
Repentance: A Daring Call to Real Surrender
By C. John Miller / CLC Publications
Unshakable Hope, Study Guide with DVD   -     By: Max Lucado
Unshakable Hope, Study Guide with DVD
By Max Lucado / Thomas Nelson

The Unshakable Hope study provides groups of all sizes the opportunity to discuss and apply what they experience during the twelve-week Unshakable Hope church campaign. This study will open participants’ eyes as to how they can view their problems in light of God’s many promises in Scripture.  This Unshakable Hope Study Pack contains one study guide and one DVD.  The Unshakable Hope book is required for this study and is not included.
Sessions include:
You Are Stamped with God’s Image (14:00)
God Will Win the Victory (13:00)
You Are an Heir of God (13:00)
Your Prayers Have Power (12:00)
God Gives Grace to the Humble (12:00)
God Gets You (13:00)
Jesus Is Praying for You (13:00)
Death Has Been Defeated (12:00)
Joy Is Coming Soon (12:30)
You Will Have Power (12:00)
There Is No Condemnation in Christ (12:00)
Justice Will Prevail (13:30)
Acts, MacArthur Bible Studies  -     By: John MacArthur
Acts, MacArthur Bible Studies
By Thomas Nelson

John MacArthur takes readers through the book of Acts, exploring how the early believers relied on God’s spirit for direction as they sought to fulfill Jesus’ commission to spread the message of the gospel to the entire world. This study can be used for personal reflection or for use in a small-group setting. 12 sessions.The MacArthur Bible Studies provide intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture. Each guide incorporates extensive commentary, detailed observations on overriding themes, and probing questions to help you study the Word of God with guidance from John MacArthur.
Believing God Day by Day: Growing Your Faith All Year Long  -     By: Beth Moore
Believing God Day by Day: Growing Your Faith All Year Long
By Beth Moore / B&H Books

Beth Moore’s popular Believing God book is now available in a 365-day format, helping readers take the Lord at His Word throughout the year. The popular book uses Isaiah 43 and Hebrews 11 to remind us that God is bigger than we can imagine and faithful to do what He says he will do. The padded hardcover, portable format and nice two-color interior make it a nice gift for any occasion.
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land, DVD Leader Kit  -     By: Priscilla Shirer
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land, DVD Leader Kit
By Priscilla Shirer / Lifeway

One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land – Leader Kit by Priscilla Shirer helps a leader facilitate this discussion-driven women’s Bible study. Priscilla encourages participants to fully engage in the abundant life God has waiting for those who will allow Him to take the lead in daily living. One in a Million is an opportunity for you to experience your deliverance from strongholds, to conquer your wilderness living, and to claim your God-given inheritance. Leader Kit includes one member book and two DVDs with seven teaching sessions, plus bonus material.
Not Forsaken Bible Study Book  -     By: Louie Giglio
Not Forsaken Bible Study Book
By Louie Giglio / Lifeway

In the 6-session Not Forsaken Video Study, Louie Giglio introduces readers to the breakthrough possibility that regardless of life’s circumstances, a perfect father-to-child relationship can be ours when we follow God through Jesus Christ.In this companion Bible Study Book, group participants have personal study opportunities between group sessions for ongoing spiritual growth.
Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary  -     Edited By: E. Ray Clendenen, Jeremy Royal Howard
Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary
By Holman Reference

A powerful resource for preachers, teachers, or any student of the Bible

This concise yet thorough reference features essential information and insight for every verse of Scripture. The Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary also includes complete book introductions, substantial bibliographies for further exploration, and 350 color photos and graphics that bring the world of each book to life.
Psalms 1-75: Holman Old Testament Commentary [HOTC]   -     Edited By: Max Anders
    By: Steven J. Lawson
Psalms 1-75: Holman Old Testament Commentary [HOTC]
By Steven J. Lawson / B&H Books

No other book in the Bible compares with the wonder of the sacred collection of inspired worship songs known as the Psalms. Considered by many to be the most loved portion of Scripture, the Psalms have been a bedrock of comfort and a tower of strength for believers in every experience of life. This is the first of two volumes in the Holman Old Testament Commentary given to the Psalms, that provides commentary on Psalms chapters 1-75. Some of the key Psalms receive an added in-depth treatment that includes exposition, illustrations, and teaching plans while providing an introductory overview of all 150 Psalms. The latest volume in the Old Testament series will equip teachers and pastors in preparing to teachers and preach the words composed from the shepherd king’s heart.

Psalms 76-150: Holman Old Testament Commentary [HOTC]   -     Edited By: Max Anders
    By: Steven J. Lawson
Psalms 76-150: Holman Old Testament Commentary [HOTC]
By Steven J. Lawson / B&H Books

No other book in the Bible compares with the wonder of the sacred collection of inspired worship songs known as the Psalms. Considered by many to be the most loved portion of Scripture, the Psalms have been a bedrock of comfort and a tower of strength for believers in every experience of life. This is the second of two volumes in the Holman Old Testament Commentary given to the Psalms, that provide commentary on Psalms chapters 76-150. Some of the key Psalms receive an added in-depth treatment that includes exposition, illustrations, and teaching plans.
Acts: Holman New Testament Commentary [HNTC]   -     By: Kenneth O. Gangel
Acts: Holman New Testament Commentary [HNTC]
By Kenneth O. Gangel / B&H Books

This commentary presents the book of Acts in a format that allows those with the time to delve into some detail of the book, while those with less time can quickly see the main points and issues of the book. Each chapter of Acts is broken down into 8 parts: an introduction, the commentary, a conclusion, life application, a prayer, deeper discoveries which add depth to the commentary, a teaching outline, and issues for discussion. Main ideas as well as supporting ideas are clearly laid out so one can easily get a feel for the passage. It is a verse-by-verse commentary that is non-technical so that lay people as well as pastors will be able to access it. This volume is written by Kenneth Gage, edited by Max Anders. New International Version.

Irresistible Curriculum Kit  -     By: Andy Stanley
Irresistible Curriculum Kit
By Andy Stanley / Zondervan

In this six-session video study, pastor and author Andy Stanley shows how Jesus’s arrival signaled that the Old Testament was fulfilled and its laws reduced to a single verb – love – to be applied to God, neighbor, and enemy.

The Irresistible Curriculum Kit contains contains one hardcover book, one study guide, and one DVD. The DVD contains six 20-25 minute sessions. The study guide includes video teaching notes, discussion questions, Bible exploration, and personal study and reflection materials for in-between sessions.

Sessions titles/times:
  1. Simply Resistible (24:00)
  2. Brand-New Agreement (19:00)
  3. The Bible According to Jesus (25:00)
  4. The Irresistible Ethic (29:00)
  5. What Love Requires (22:00)
  6. A New Approach (23:00)
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage  -     By: Julia M. Bruce
Available at Christianbook Distributors
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage
By Julia M. Bruce / WestBow Press

It doesn’t matter if you have a great marriage, an “ok” marriage, one that is limping along trying to survive, or one that is headed for divorce. Through the guided activities, couple’s can develop stronger marriages as they apply God’s principles to their marriage, take an honest look at what they do and do not contribute to the marriage, and learn to never stop dating. This is a great book for any couple. For pastors, counselors, and lay leaders working with or mentoring couples, this is a great book to recommend. 

There’s no doubt that marriage is hard work. Yet it can also be one of the most fulfilling relationships you can experience, outside of your relationship with God. However, many marriages leave God outside of the relationship. Godly marriages do not happen without cultivating it, investing in it, and putting God first in your individual lives and in your marriage.

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on
  • Conversation Starters
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
  • Romance Builders
  • Relationship Builders
  • Personal reflections
  • Date ideas
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples

Christian tees and more available

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A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 
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Check out the products below or click any of the links to go to CBD, and browse all the products.

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At Christianbook Distributors you will find Bible studies, books, gifts, and more to help you grow your faith and often at discounted prices from other places.


Our organization receives an 8% commission on any item you purchase through these links. However, the product price is the same for you. There is no increase in your cost for us to receive the commission. All commissions received support the work and ministry of Wellspring Christian Ministries. Enter the site through any of the links below and browse the online store. Any item you purchase through one of our links will qualify for us to receive the commission.

Search:
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Repentance: What It Is, What It Isn't, and How To Do It  -     By: Rick Renner
Repentance: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How To Do It
By Rick Renner / Harrison House

Most people associate repentance with displays of emotion that signal regret. But the emotional responses of remorse, guilt, or regret are insufficient to produce behavioral change. In fact, those toxic emotions may lead to an even deeper sense of hopelessness, defeat, and despair without the restorative power of true repentance. Genuine repentance dispenses with any attempt to remove guilt through a show of emotion. When activated, it leaves in its powerful wake the fruit of a changed life blazing a trail toward true deliverance, freedom, and salvation. This is the life God desires for us a life waiting on the other side of a door called repentance.

What Is Repentance?  -     By: R.C. Sproul
What Is Repentance?
By R. C. Sproul / Reformation Trust Publishing

In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul looks at several people in the Bible and how they give us a model of repentance. Dr. Sproul explains that true repentance is not simply a religious ritual or the resolve to do better next time. Rather, it’s a spiritual conversion in which we turn from our sin and to God in faith. Paperback.
Repentance: A Daring Call to Real Surrender   -     By: C. John Miller
Repentance: A Daring Call to Real Surrender
By C. John Miller / CLC Publications

Repentence begins at salvation, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s an ongoing attitude for daily living in Christ. This new edition of Repentence by C. John Miller, features an epilogue written by his widow Rose Marie, in which she shares how Jack lived out these principles on a daily basis. Learn how to experience a lifestyle of repentance with the Lord and find the peace and freedom He brings.
Return To Me: A Biblical Theology of Repentance  -     By: Mark J. Boda
Return To Me: A Biblical Theology of Repentance
By Mark J. Boda / IVP Academic

“Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you,” (Zech 1:3 ESV).

Repentance concerns the repair of a relationship with God disrupted by human sin. All the major phases of church history have seen diversity and controversy over the doctrine. The first of Luther’s famous ninety-five theses nailed to the church door in Wittenburg in 1517 stated that ‘the entire life of believers should be one of repentance’. In recent times, two divisive debates within evangelicalism over ‘lordship salvation” and “hypergrace” have had repentance at their core.

The theme of repentance is evident in almost every Old and New Testament corpus. However, it has received little sustained attention over the past half-century of scholarship, which has been largely restricted to word studies or focused on a particular text or genre. Studies of the overall theology of the Bible have typically given the theme only passing mention.

The Key to understanding Repentance:

In response, Mark Boda offers a comprehensive overview of the theological witness of Scripture to the theme of repentance in this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume. The key to understanding is not simply to be found in word studies, but also in the broader meaning of texts as these communicate through a variety of words, images and stories. The importance of repentance in redemptive history is emphasized. It is fundamentally a return to intimate fellowship with the triune God, our Creator and redeemer. This relational return arises from the human heart and impacts attitudes, words and actions.

About the Series:
Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.
River & Streams in the Desert: The Forty Forties of Scripture-A Forty-Day Repentance Devotional  -     By: Jeffrey Daly
River & Streams in the Desert: The Forty Forties of Scripture-A Forty-Day Repentance Devotional
By Jeffrey Daly / WestBow Press

Day after day, God patiently wishes you to discover Him at the deepest possible levels. The spiritual practice of repentance is the pathway into this most intimate of all human/divine interactions. Repentance, turning away from the world’s ways and fleshly desires, is the way to enter his kingdom.

River & Streams in the Desert, by author Pastor Jeffrey Daly, presents a guide to help you experience the power and liberty of repentance as a daily practice. With each of the forty scriptures, there is a connection to repentance, giving you encouragement to become more like Jesus. Each of the devotionals offers a suggested prayer for both personal and national repentance.

Insightful and inspiring, this devotional equips you with the necessary understanding, confidence, and encouragement to walk the path of righteousness and repentance. It encourages you, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, to become zealous in repenting from old sin patterns and be inspired to be a daily witness to others.

About the Author

Pastor Jeffrey Daly, a former Wall Street lawyer, committed to serving Christ in 1991; this is his third book. He and his wife, Laurie, served as pastors of Jesus Christ Fellowship, Middletown, California. Retired from his legal practice, Daly writes, teaches, and works with national repentance and prayer ministries. In addition to founding the National Day of Repentance, he’s also a director of Capitol Hill Prayer Partners, Washington, DC. Visit him online at http://www.repentday.com. He is also the author of The Spiritual Battle for the White House” and “Making America Godly Again.”

Hosea & Joel: Thru the Bible Commentary Series   -     By: J. Vernon McGee
Hosea & Joel: Thru the Bible Commentary Series
By Dr. J. Vernon McGee / Thomas Nelson

The scriptures come alive with America’s best-loved Bible teacher Dr. J. Vernon McGee. Whether you are a new believer or a longtime Bible student, the series offers sound biblical scholarship and practical, down-to-earth suggestions for applying the principles of Scripture to everyday life. The studies in the series have been taken from Dr. McGee’s “Thru the Bible” radio messages. With his familiar, anecdotal style and lively approach, Dr. McGee makes biblical truth understandable and Bible study more enjoyable.

Joel: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament [ZECOT]   -     Edited By: Daniel I. Block
    By: Joel Barker
Joel: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament [ZECOT]
By Joel Barker / Zondervan

For those who don’t know Hebrew, this series may serve as a great introduction. Each volume’s author uncovers the main idea of a passage; its literary context; a fresh translation; an exegetical outline of Hebrew structure and form; an explanation of the text; and its canonical and practical significance. Exegetes and expositors, dive in! 208 pages, hardcover. Zondervan.

Holman Old Testament Commentary - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah - eBook  -     Edited By: Max Anders
    By: Trent C. Butler
Holman Old Testament Commentary – Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah – eBook
By Trent Butler / Holman Reference
Prophet of the Coming Day of the Lord (Joel), Welwyn Commentary Series  -     By: O. Palmer Robertson
Prophet of the Coming Day of the Lord (Joel), Welwyn Commentary Series
By O. Palmer Robertson / Evangelical Press

Here the meaning of the prophecy of Joel is presented in an easy to understand style. Joel deals with significant issues that have many parallels to our own time today. It is a reminder for the people of God to heart felt repentance and the glorious truth of the blessing of the Lord in the renewal of the earth by the outpouring of the Spirit on men and women, young and old, Jew and Gentile. O. Palmer Robertson received his Bachelor of Divinity from Westminster Seminary and his Master’s and Doctorate from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia.

A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer  -     By: John Piper, David Platt, Francis Chan
A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer
By John Piper / Crossway

Is your soul so stuffed with worldly desires that you have little room left for God? Piper invites you to turn from materialism and sharpen your appetite for God through prayer and fasting. His exploration of fasting will help you understand how this ancient biblical practice can nourish your spiritual life and satisfy your longings. 201 pages, softcover from Crossway.

A Woman Seeking God: Discover God in the Places of Your Life - eBook  -     By: Dorothy Kelley Patterson
A Woman Seeking God: Discover God in the Places of Your Life – eBook
By Dorothy Kelley Patterson / B&H Books

Discover God in all aspects of your life! Examining everyday experiences in the light of God’s Word, Kelley Patterson will help affirm your faith in God’s daily presence. In this collection of 36 essays, she shares insights on family life, dealing with adversity, the power of prayer, intimacy in marriage, and evangelism. A daily Bible reading plan is included. eBook Version.

AHA: The God Moment That Changes Everything   -     By: Kyle Idleman
AHA: The God Moment That Changes Everything
By Kyle Idleman / David C Cook

Are there places in your life where you would like to experience an aha! moment? A moment of truth that renews your heart and mind bringing transformation? Maybe for you, it’s a fear or a failure that you just can’t shake. For some, it could be the need for approval, a food addiction, or an all-out rebellion that leads to a life of excess and shame, like the prodigal son.As a pastor, Kyle Idleman has heard dozens of stories from people about their aha! moments. In this newest book, he shares the common threads from their stories, and the story of the prodigal son that will help you reconnect with the love of our heavenly Father. Drawing on Scriptural truths, he outlines three key elements (Awakening, Honesty, Action) that will draw you closer to God and change your life for good. Includes study questions.

America Return to God: Repent from Sin, Rebuild the Wall, Repair the Gates, Restore the Dream  -     By: Alveda C. King
America Return to God: Repent from Sin, Rebuild the Wall, Repair the Gates, Restore the Dream
By Alveda C. King / Elijah List Publications

One reason that America borders on the brink of economic disaster and constant violent upheaval is we have turned blind eyes and deaf ears to the plight of our brothers and sisters. Like Cain who killed his brother Abel, we have despised good and have turned away from caring about what happens to others.

We must humble ourselves as Nehemiah did: “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4 NIV). Amazingly, in 2015, there emerged an unlikely presidential candidate who wanted to “make America great again.” He spoke of “building a wall” around America’s borders. The people became fearful; the naysayers furious. Yet the talk of America’s wall continued.Finally, 21st century America has taken notice that something more is required if there is hope for America.Yes, there’s hope, and there is still time to return to God and rebuild God’s wall of protection around our nation. If we sincerely desire to rebuild, there is much to be learned from the lessons in the books of Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah.It’s the season for the “hidden prophets” to speak out

Battle Plan for Prayer (Bible Study Book)  -     By: Alex Kendrick
Battle Plan for Prayer (Bible Study Book)
By Alex Kendrick / Lifeway

Develop a deeper walk with God as you seek the Lord for your battles first. The Battle Plan for Prayer Bible Study equips believers to create their own prayer strategy and be specific and strategic in prayer. This study features teaching by Alex and Stephen Kendrick on the topics of: what prayer is and is not, why God wants us to pray, specific areas of prayer, specific strategies for prayer, and more. The Bible Study book includes a Video Notes Section, Group Discussion Questions, and 5 days of homework for each week’s session.

Brokenness: The Heart God Revives, with Small Group Study Guide  -     By: Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Brokenness: The Heart God Revives, with Small Group Study Guide
By Nancy Leigh DeMoss / Moody Publishers

Nancy DeMoss has discovered an irrefutable spiritual principle: before every great moment of God there is always a time of deep repentance. Here is her moving, true account of how God created that brokenness in others – and the astonishing revival that followed.

Fasting: Opening the Door to a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship with God  -     By: Jentezen Franklin
Fasting: Opening the Door to a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship with God
By Jentezen Franklin / Charisma House

Are you seeking healing? Does a loved one need salvation? Is your faith community searching for direction? Tap into the power of fasting and present your requests to the Lord! Offering simple suggestions, Franklin shows how abstaining from food will leave your spirit uncluttered so you are free to seek God’s will in prayer and humility. 256 pages, hardcover from Charisma.

Goliath Must Fall Study Guide with DVD: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants  -     By: Louie Giglio
Goliath Must Fall Study Guide with DVD: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants
By Louie Giglio / Thomas Nelson

In Goliath Must Fall, Pastor Louie Giglio examines the story of David and Goliath to reveal how we must slay the giants of fear, rejection, complacency, anxiety, anger, and addiction in our lives. In this six-session video study, he shows how the key to living free from our giants is not better slingshot accuracy, but keeping our eyes on the one and only giant-slayer: Jesus. Put your hope in him, and watch Goliath fall. Pack includes 1 Study Guide and 1 DVD with six sessions.Sessions:Dead but Still Deadly (22:00)
Fear Must Fall (23:00)
Rejection Must Fall (20:00)
Comfort Must Fall (20:00)
Anger Must Fall (21:00)
Addiction Must Fall (19:30)Approximate running time: 126 minutesFirst Lesson Free! PDF Study Guide

Honor Begins at Home Leaders Kit:  The Courageous Bible Study  -     By: Michael Catt, Alex Kendrick, Stephen Kendrick
Honor Begins at Home Leaders Kit: The Courageous Bible Study
By Michael Catt & Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick / Lifeway

This 8-week Bible study is changing the lives of husbands and fathers everywhere. Start a study at your church, and see how its message can bring powerful change to your family, your church, and your entire community for many years to come.

Every session involves watching a clip from the movie to help group members engage in discussion. And daily readings from The Resolution for Men and The Resolution for Women will help you connect with God and His best plan for your family. This study goes even deeper than the Courageous Living 4-session study and allows spouses to study together and make new commitments as parents.

Pray Like This, DVD Leader Kit  -     By: Steve Gaines, Michael Kelley
Pray Like This, DVD Leader Kit
By Steve Gaines & Michael Kelley / Lifeway

Pray Like This outlines the Model Prayer from Matthew 6 that Jesus gave His disciples; and shows believers today how to pray with an understanding of who God is and what He desires for our lives.

Pray like This Leader Kit includes a Bible Study Book and a DVD with a promotional video and six 15-minute videos that introduce each phrase in the Model Prayer, explore its theological truths, and suggest areas of life application.

The study follows a six-week format that covers these topics:

Weekly sessions include the following titles

1 – The Fatherhood of God
2 – The Worthiness of God
3 – The Kingdom and Will of God
4 – The Provision of God
5 – The Forgiveness of God
6 – The Protection of God

No More Excuses DVD Leader Kit   -     By: Tony Evans
No More Excuses DVD Leader Kit
By Tony Evans / Lifeway

Be the Man God Made You to Be! – Sometimes circumstances in life make it difficult for men to be all God wants them to be. But Tony Evans urges men to stop looking at their circumstances as excuses and instead to see them as challenges and opportunities for success.

No More Excuses 8-session video study by Tony Evans explores examples of men of God throughout the Bible such as Moses, Joseph, and David. He challenges you to lay down your excuses and fight to be a man of character and commitment.

This No More Excuses Leader Kit includes a Bible Study Book and two DVDs with a promotional video and eight 12- to 15-minute video teaching sessions featuring author Tony Evans. The Kit also includes codes for access to digital video downloads and additional resources through Wordsearch Bible.

Session Titles/Times:

DISC 1

  1. Promotional Video [01:11]

2. Session 1: No More Hiding Behind the Past [11:21]

3. Session 2: No More Holding Back [13:22]

4. Session 3: No More Weak Leadership [12:04]

5. Session 4: No More Going Through the Motions [12:04]

DISC 2

6. Session 5: No More Compromising Your Integrity [12:41]

7. Session 6: No More Sifting Through the Rubble [13:18]

8. Session 7: No More Half Stepping [12:31]

9. Session 8: No More Standing on the Sidelines [15:27]

Session Previews

Social Media Content

The Resolution for Men Bible Study  -     By: Alex Kendrick, Stephen Kendrick
The Resolution for Men Bible Study
By Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick / B&H Books

Inspired by the movie COURAGEOUS, this study contains twelve commitments related to characteristics men of God want to pursue – responsibility, faithfulness, honor, justice, forgiveness, integrity, courage, and more. In eight sessions, Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick lead men through these “I Will” commitments, identifying the biblical message and ways to live out each principle in real life, especially with their families.

Stepping Up: A Call to Courageous Manhood  Video Series Workbook  -     By: Dennis Rainey
Stepping Up: A Call to Courageous Manhood Video Series Workbook

By Dennis Rainey / Familylife

Discover what it means to step up and live a courageous life. Based on his book by the same title, Dennis Rainey and other ministry leaders unpack what biblical manhood looks like. Stepping Up&reg; define courage throughout the five stages of manhood and commissions men to honestly evaluate where they stand in their duties of masculinity. Essential for the small-group study experience, the workbook correlates to the 10 video sessions and provides additional thought-provoking content, small-group discussion questions, and three days of follow-up exercises for men to finish on their own.

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage  -     By: Julia M. Bruce
Available at Christianbook Distributors
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage
By Julia M. Bruce / WestBow Press

It doesn’t matter if you have a great marriage, an “ok” marriage, one that is limping along trying to survive, or one that is headed for divorce. Through the guided activities, couple’s can develop stronger marriages as they apply God’s principles to their marriage, take an honest look at what they do and do not contribute to the marriage, and learn to never stop dating. This is a great book for any couple. For pastors, counselors, and lay leaders working with or mentoring couples, this is a great book to recommend. 

There’s no doubt that marriage is hard work. Yet it can also be one of the most fulfilling relationships you can experience, outside of your relationship with God. However, many marriages leave God outside of the relationship. Godly marriages do not happen without cultivating it, investing in it, and putting God first in your individual lives and in your marriage.

This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on
  • Conversation Starters
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
  • Romance Builders
  • Relationship Builders
  • Personal reflections
  • Date ideas
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
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Patriotic Gifts Available at Christianbook Distributors

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At Christianbook Distributors you will find Bible studies, books, gifts, and more to help you grow your faith and often at discounted prices from other places.


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Repentance: What It Is, What It Isn't, and How To Do It  -     By: Rick Renner
Repentance: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How To Do It
By Rick Renner / Harrison House

Most people associate repentance with displays of emotion that signal regret. But the emotional responses of remorse, guilt, or regret are insufficient to produce behavioral change. In fact, those toxic emotions may lead to an even deeper sense of hopelessness, defeat, and despair without the restorative power of true repentance. Genuine repentance dispenses with any attempt to remove guilt through a show of emotion. When activated, it leaves in its powerful wake the fruit of a changed life blazing a trail toward true deliverance, freedom, and salvation. This is the life God desires for us a life waiting on the other side of a door called repentance.

What Is Repentance?  -     By: R.C. Sproul
What Is Repentance?
By R. C. Sproul / Reformation Trust Publishing

In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul looks at several people in the Bible and how they give us a model of repentance. Dr. Sproul explains that true repentance is not simply a religious ritual or the resolve to do better next time. Rather, it’s a spiritual conversion in which we turn from our sin and to God in faith. Paperback.
Repentance: A Daring Call to Real Surrender   -     By: C. John Miller
Repentance: A Daring Call to Real Surrender
By C. John Miller / CLC Publications

Repentence begins at salvation, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s an ongoing attitude for daily living in Christ. This new edition of Repentence by C. John Miller, features an epilogue written by his widow Rose Marie, in which she shares how Jack lived out these principles on a daily basis. Learn how to experience a lifestyle of repentance with the Lord and find the peace and freedom He brings.
Return To Me: A Biblical Theology of Repentance  -     By: Mark J. Boda
Return To Me: A Biblical Theology of Repentance
By Mark J. Boda / IVP Academic

“Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you,” (Zech 1:3 ESV).

Repentance concerns the repair of a relationship with God disrupted by human sin. All the major phases of church history have seen diversity and controversy over the doctrine. The first of Luther’s famous ninety-five theses nailed to the church door in Wittenburg in 1517 stated that ‘the entire life of believers should be one of repentance’. In recent times, two divisive debates within evangelicalism over ‘lordship salvation” and “hypergrace” have had repentance at their core.

The theme of repentance is evident in almost every Old and New Testament corpus. However, it has received little sustained attention over the past half-century of scholarship, which has been largely restricted to word studies or focused on a particular text or genre. Studies of the overall theology of the Bible have typically given the theme only passing mention.

The Key to understanding Repentance:

In response, Mark Boda offers a comprehensive overview of the theological witness of Scripture to the theme of repentance in this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume. The key to understanding is not simply to be found in word studies, but also in the broader meaning of texts as these communicate through a variety of words, images and stories. The importance of repentance in redemptive history is emphasized. It is fundamentally a return to intimate fellowship with the triune God, our Creator and redeemer. This relational return arises from the human heart and impacts attitudes, words and actions.

About the Series:
Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.
River & Streams in the Desert: The Forty Forties of Scripture-A Forty-Day Repentance Devotional  -     By: Jeffrey Daly
River & Streams in the Desert: The Forty Forties of Scripture-A Forty-Day Repentance Devotional
By Jeffrey Daly / WestBow Press

Day after day, God patiently wishes you to discover Him at the deepest possible levels. The spiritual practice of repentance is the pathway into this most intimate of all human/divine interactions. Repentance, turning away from the world’s ways and fleshly desires, is the way to enter his kingdom.

River & Streams in the Desert, by author Pastor Jeffrey Daly, presents a guide to help you experience the power and liberty of repentance as a daily practice. With each of the forty scriptures, there is a connection to repentance, giving you encouragement to become more like Jesus. Each of the devotionals offers a suggested prayer for both personal and national repentance.

Insightful and inspiring, this devotional equips you with the necessary understanding, confidence, and encouragement to walk the path of righteousness and repentance. It encourages you, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, to become zealous in repenting from old sin patterns and be inspired to be a daily witness to others.

About the Author

Pastor Jeffrey Daly, a former Wall Street lawyer, committed to serving Christ in 1991; this is his third book. He and his wife, Laurie, served as pastors of Jesus Christ Fellowship, Middletown, California. Retired from his legal practice, Daly writes, teaches, and works with national repentance and prayer ministries. In addition to founding the National Day of Repentance, he’s also a director of Capitol Hill Prayer Partners, Washington, DC. Visit him online at http://www.repentday.com. He is also the author of The Spiritual Battle for the White House” and “Making America Godly Again.”

Hosea & Joel: Thru the Bible Commentary Series   -     By: J. Vernon McGee
Hosea & Joel: Thru the Bible Commentary Series
By Dr. J. Vernon McGee / Thomas Nelson

The scriptures come alive with America’s best-loved Bible teacher Dr. J. Vernon McGee. Whether you are a new believer or a longtime Bible student, the series offers sound biblical scholarship and practical, down-to-earth suggestions for applying the principles of Scripture to everyday life. The studies in the series have been taken from Dr. McGee’s “Thru the Bible” radio messages. With his familiar, anecdotal style and lively approach, Dr. McGee makes biblical truth understandable and Bible study more enjoyable.

Joel: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament [ZECOT]   -     Edited By: Daniel I. Block
    By: Joel Barker
Joel: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament [ZECOT]
By Joel Barker / Zondervan

For those who don’t know Hebrew, this series may serve as a great introduction. Each volume’s author uncovers the main idea of a passage; its literary context; a fresh translation; an exegetical outline of Hebrew structure and form; an explanation of the text; and its canonical and practical significance. Exegetes and expositors, dive in! 208 pages, hardcover. Zondervan.

Holman Old Testament Commentary - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah - eBook  -     Edited By: Max Anders
    By: Trent C. Butler
Holman Old Testament Commentary – Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah – eBook
By Trent Butler / Holman Reference
Prophet of the Coming Day of the Lord (Joel), Welwyn Commentary Series  -     By: O. Palmer Robertson
Prophet of the Coming Day of the Lord (Joel), Welwyn Commentary Series
By O. Palmer Robertson / Evangelical Press

Here the meaning of the prophecy of Joel is presented in an easy to understand style. Joel deals with significant issues that have many parallels to our own time today. It is a reminder for the people of God to heart felt repentance and the glorious truth of the blessing of the Lord in the renewal of the earth by the outpouring of the Spirit on men and women, young and old, Jew and Gentile. O. Palmer Robertson received his Bachelor of Divinity from Westminster Seminary and his Master’s and Doctorate from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia.

A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer  -     By: John Piper, David Platt, Francis Chan
A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer
By John Piper / Crossway

Is your soul so stuffed with worldly desires that you have little room left for God? Piper invites you to turn from materialism and sharpen your appetite for God through prayer and fasting. His exploration of fasting will help you understand how this ancient biblical practice can nourish your spiritual life and satisfy your longings. 201 pages, softcover from Crossway.

A Woman Seeking God: Discover God in the Places of Your Life - eBook  -     By: Dorothy Kelley Patterson
A Woman Seeking God: Discover God in the Places of Your Life – eBook
By Dorothy Kelley Patterson / B&H Books

Discover God in all aspects of your life! Examining everyday experiences in the light of God’s Word, Kelley Patterson will help affirm your faith in God’s daily presence. In this collection of 36 essays, she shares insights on family life, dealing with adversity, the power of prayer, intimacy in marriage, and evangelism. A daily Bible reading plan is included. eBook Version.

AHA: The God Moment That Changes Everything   -     By: Kyle Idleman
AHA: The God Moment That Changes Everything
By Kyle Idleman / David C Cook

Are there places in your life where you would like to experience an aha! moment? A moment of truth that renews your heart and mind bringing transformation? Maybe for you, it’s a fear or a failure that you just can’t shake. For some, it could be the need for approval, a food addiction, or an all-out rebellion that leads to a life of excess and shame, like the prodigal son.As a pastor, Kyle Idleman has heard dozens of stories from people about their aha! moments. In this newest book, he shares the common threads from their stories, and the story of the prodigal son that will help you reconnect with the love of our heavenly Father. Drawing on Scriptural truths, he outlines three key elements (Awakening, Honesty, Action) that will draw you closer to God and change your life for good. Includes study questions.

America Return to God: Repent from Sin, Rebuild the Wall, Repair the Gates, Restore the Dream  -     By: Alveda C. King
America Return to God: Repent from Sin, Rebuild the Wa