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  Shepherd, Vine and Bones : The Use of Ezekiel in the Gospel of John

  Gary T. Manning

  Ezekiel has long been considered the most difficult of all the prophetic books to understand. The prophet's bizarre visions, extraordinary behaviour, and extravagant imagery have perplexed and fascinated readers for more than 2,500 years. The prophet has had an impact not only on theology and the life of Church and Synagogue, but also on culture, art and architecture. The volume brings together 15 new essays on Ezekiel's impact by leading scholars, and they focus on a range of different parts of the book and periods of reception. Historically they cover the reception of Ezekiel from the New Testament to the present day, and include both Jewish and Christian readings of the book. Methodologically, they offer a wide sample of the different approaches to reception/history of interpretation current in contemporary biblical studies.

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  Temple Police : Double Agents

  Gary T. Manning

  This volume represents the most thorough study of characters and characterization in the Fourth Gospel heretofore published. Building on several different narrative approaches, the contributors assembled here offer sixty-two essays related to characters and group characters in John. Among these are detailed studies presenting fresh perspectives on characters who play a major role in the Gospel (e.g., Peter, Mary Magdalene, etc.), as well as original studies of characters who have never been the focus of narrative analysis before, characters often glossed over in commentaries as insignificant (e.g., the boy with the loaves and fish, the parents of the man born blind, etc.). Clearly, characters in John stand in the shadow of the protagonist -- Jesus. In this volume, however, they step fully into the light. Thus illuminated, it becomes clear how complex and nuanced many of them are.

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  Reembodying the positionality of MiddleMAN administrators in higher education

  Aurora Matzke

  Chapter 29

  This edited collection contends that if women are to enter into leadership positions at equal levels with their male colleagues, then sexism in all its forms must be acknowledged, attended to, and actively addressed. This interdisciplinary collection―Surviving Sexism in Academia: Strategies for Feminist Leadership―is part storytelling, part autoethnography, part action plan. The chapters document and analyze everyday sexism in the academy and offer up strategies for survival, ultimately 'lifting the veil" from the good old boys/business-as-usual culture that continues to pervade academia in both visible and less-visible forms, forms that can stifle even the most ambitious women in their careers.

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  Beauty of intolerance : setting a generation free to know truth & love

  Sean McDowell

  Today's message of cultural acceptance is dangerously distorted and deceptive. In a world that shouts: "If you truly care about other people, you must agree that their beliefs, values, lifestyle, and truth claims are equal and as valid as yours!" it’s no wonder our youth are confused. The Beauty of Intolerance--brand-new from Josh McDowell with son Sean McDowell--cuts through the confusion and points you back to the place where the only truth resides. . .Jesus Christ. Tied directly to the Heroic Truth initiative launched by the Josh McDowell Ministry, McDowell will share how a biblical view of truth can counter cultural tolerance and encourage a love and acceptance of others apart from their actions with a heart of Christlike compassion.

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  Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture

  Sean McDowell

  The music we listen to, the movies we watch—they're all telling us to keep chasing love, and that we'll finally be happy when we find it. But is love really all we need? The love that the world tells us to pursue is all about self, about following your heart’s desires. But what is the Christian worldview on love? When we follow Jesus, we realize that he invites us to reorient the focus of our lives, so instead of chasing love primarily for our own happiness, we are first and foremost to give love—to God and to others. In Chasing Love, Sean McDowell will invite readers into Jesus’ radical, upside-down approach to love, and in doing so, he’ll answer some of the toughest questions we’re asking about love today:

  • How does Jesus speak to singleness?
  • What does the gospel say about LGBTQ issues?
  • Can sexual sin truly be forgiven?
  • What if I’m not happy in my marriage?

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  Evidence that demands a verdict : life-changing truth for a skeptical world

  Sean McDowell

  The modern apologetics classic that started it all is now completely revised and updated—because the truth of the Bible doesn’t change, but its critics do. With the original Evidence That Demands a Verdict, bestselling author Josh McDowell gave Christian readers the answers they needed to defend their faith against the harshest critics and skeptics. Since that time, Evidence has remained a trusted resource for believers young and old. Bringing historical documentation and the best modern scholarship to bear on the trustworthiness of the Bible and its teachings, this extensive volume has encouraged and strengthened millions. Now, with his son Sean McDowell, Josh McDowell has updated and expanded this classic resource for a new generation. This is a book that invites readers to bring their doubts and doesn’t shy away from the tough questions.

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  Fate of the apostles : examining the martyrdom accounts of the closest followers of Jesus

  Sean McDowell

  The Book of Martyrs by John Foxe written in the 16th century has long been the go-to source for studying the lives and martyrdom of the apostles. Whilst other scholars have written individual treatments on the more prominent apostles such as Peter, Paul, John, and James, there is little published information on the other apostles. In The Fate of the Apostles, Sean McDowell offers a comprehensive, reasoned, historical analysis of the fate of the twelve disciples of Jesus along with the apostles Paul, and James. McDowell assesses the evidence for each apostle’s martyrdom as well as determining its significance to the reliability of their testimony. The question of the fate of the apostles also gets to the heart of the reliability of the kerygma: did the apostles really believe Jesus appeared to them after his death, or did they fabricate the entire story? How reliable are the resurrection accounts? The willingness of the apostles to die for their faith is a popular argument in resurrection studies and McDowell offers insightful scholarly analysis of this argument to break new ground within the spheres of New Testament studies, Church History, and apologetics.

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  New kind of apologist

  Sean McDowell

  Ch. 1 Christians in the argument culture : apologetics as conversation / Tim Muehlhoff

  Interview with J.P. Moreland

  Ch. 18 How to question the Bible in a post-Christian culture / Jonathan Morrow

  Ch.25 The scientific naturalist juggernaut and what to do about it / Scott Smith

  A New Kind of Apologist, edited by Sean McDowell and with contributions from more than 20 leading apologists, is the go-to resource for effectively defending the Christian faith in our changing culture. In it you'll discover:

  • important topics often ignored by apologists, such as transgender issues, religious freedom, and the intersection of economics and apologetics
  • a new kind of apologetics that is relational, gracious, and holistic
  • interviews with both seasoned apologists and skeptics, providing insights into how to do apologetics effectively in today's culture

  A New Kind of Apologist addresses the latest issues, including

  • "Connecting Apologetics to the Heart"
  • "Teaching Apologetics to the Next Generation"
  • "Apologetics in our Sexually Broken Culture"
  • "Apologetics and Islam"
  • "Apologetics and Religious Freedom"

  and adopts fresh strategies for reaching those who are outside the church with the truth of the gospel.

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  Rebel's Manifesto: Choosing Truth, Real Justice, and Love amid the Noise of Today's World

  Sean McDowell

  Rebel's Manifesto offers clear guidance to help people navigate the many moral issues that plague this generation. Students today are oriented toward action on ethical issues, and Sean will not only help them think biblically about various ethical issues, but he will also offer practical steps to make a positive difference in this world. In this book, Sean covers

  • navigating bullying and social media;
  • handling loneliness, pornography, and sex;
  • approaching various conversations around climate change, race, and other controversial issues; and
  • articulating and defending biblical views at school, online, and with friends.

  Life does not need to devolve into an online shouting match. Sean proposes a better way: to live a life calmly and confidently grounded in biblical truth.

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  Same-sex marriage : a thoughtful approach to God's design for marriage

  Sean McDowell

  Same-sex marriage is here, presenting unique challenges and opportunities. How do those who follow Christ faithfully answer the standard talking points for same-sex marriage? And how can they best articulate the case for one-man, one-woman marriage in everyday conversation? Sean McDowell and John Stonestreet believe a thoughtful approach to God's design for marriage is the answer to both questions. The key is not a contentious attitude towards those who believe in same-sex marriage, but a winsome perspective that is faithful to Christ, committed to truth, and shaped by a love for God and others. Christians need to know that because Christ has risen, there is no such thing as "all hope is lost." They are still called to engage culture even if they are viewed as wrong, illegal and intolerant.

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  So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World

  Sean McDowell

  Whether you're a Christian parent, youth leader, or educator who works with Generation Z, this book was written for you. As powerful ideas in our increasingly secular culture shape more of this generation, trusted leaders must share what they know about Jesus in ways that will reach them. But how? Backed by the latest research and first hand experience, this powerful book shows how to share biblical truth with a generation that desperately needs to hear it in a way that draws them in instead of pushing them away.

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  Understanding Intelligent Design: Everything You Need to Know in Plain Language

  Sean McDowell

  This compact guide lays out the basics of Intelligent Design, popularly known as ID. William Dembski, the dean of the intelligent-design movement, and Sean McDowell especially target readers whose understanding may have been confused by educational bias and one-sided arguments and attacks.

  Commonsense and no-nonsense, with pointed examples, the authors explain

  • the central theories of ID, showing why the presence of information and meaningful complexity require the involvement of intelligence
  • why ID adheres to the scientific method and is a valid field of scientific inquiry
  • why scientific evidence increasingly conflicts with evolutionary theories
  • how both evolutionary theory and ID have religious/philosophical underpinnings, and why this causes so much controversy
  • how both systems of thought have radical implications for our culture—and what readers can do about it

  Clarifying crucial issues, this key resource gives nonspecialists a solid grasp of one of today's foundational religious-scientific-cultural concepts.

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  From Illusion to Reality

  J. Jeff McHugh

  Upon graduating college and entering the working world, many students feel lost and are often inadequately prepared. Why is this? It all boils down to the importance of work ethic, integrity, and a willingness to do research instead of just charging blindly into your professional life. This book intends to expose the mistaken beliefs of college graduates, while also providing a dedicated space for practical tips that evoke a positive mental shift. Also included is a section on career preparation, which will help you take practical steps toward discovering your potential future career. The advice given in this book covers both personal and professional life, since the level of excellence you demonstrate in one area will often impact the other. From Illusion to Reality will provide readers with a better understanding of their calling, as well as hope for the future and a passion that will drive them toward their goals. With personal anecdotes from the authors themselves as well as from graduates and working professionals from different walks of life, this book is both engaging and grounded in real life experience, not in abstract or elitist ideas. Written for average to advanced readers, this book is an easy but engaging read that will put you on the right professional track.

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  10 key roles of a pastor : proven practices for balancing the demands of leading your church

  Gary McIntosh

  If most pastors were pressed to describe an average day of ministry, they'd have trouble doing it. In a single day, a pastor may fill many different roles in quick succession, from counselor to theologian to student to CEO to custodian (well, let's hope there's usually someone else available to perform that last role). Some roles come more naturally than others, but every pastor wants to perform each role to the best of their ability. In The 10 Key Roles of a Pastor, church consultant Gary L. McIntosh shows pastors how to - understand and juggle their many essential roles - prioritize their time and energy - manage their people's expectations of them - and empower others to take up the vital work of the church body Pastors just starting out in ministry, as well as those who have been at it a while and find themselves overworked and overwhelmed, will value this practical resource. It is also an enlightening read for those in church leadership who would benefit from understanding the pressures their pastor faces on a daily basis.

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  Beyond the first visit the complete guide to connecting guests to your church

  Gary McIntosh

  All churches like to think that theirs is the friendliest in town. But do visitors see it that way? Church consultant Gary McIntosh invites readers to take a look at their church through the eyes of visitors and potential visitors. His starting point, grounded in an understanding of God as a "welcomer," is that churches should see those who enter their doors as not merely visitors, but as guests, and themselves as gracious hosts. This practical book offers sound advice on assessing and improving the ways in which churches attract people, welcome them, do follow-up, and bring them into the church family. It also offers suggestions for making a welcoming attitude part of the very fabric of the local church.

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  Biblical church growth : how you can work with God to build a faithful church

  Gary McIntosh

  Every pastor wants to have a vibrant, dynamic church. There are many popular models for church growth based on outstanding churches led by outstanding pastors. But unfortunately, specific models are temporary and go out of style quickly. Author Gary McIntosh explores the biblical principles for church growth and applies them to today's culture. Instead of concentrating on the ephemeral how of church growth, he focuses on the unchanging why. McIntosh defines church growth as "all that is involved in bringing men and women who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ into fellowship with him and into responsible church membership." In other words, church growth is effective evangelism, not a methodology for increasing membership. According to Biblical Church Growth, growing churches always evidence a desire to fulfill the Great Commission by cooperating with God in building a faithful church. Using personal stories and current statistics as well as numerous biblical examples, the author sets forth ten basic principles that provide an eternal foundation for helping any church-large or small-achieve lasting vitality and growth.

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  Building the body : 12 characteristics of a fit church

  Gary McIntosh

  Building the Body offers pastors and church leaders twelve characteristics of fit churches and shows them how they can move their church through five levels of fitness, from beginner all the way to elite--just as an athlete, through training and practice, can become the top in his or her class. Includes comparison charts at the end of each chapter so readers can clearly see where their church currently falls and concluding "Complete the Progress Chart" so that they can see what their goals should be for the future.

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  Church that works : your one-stop resource for effective ministry

  Gary McIntosh

  The expertise of veteran church consultant and best-selling author Gary McIntosh is now available in an easily portable format. McIntosh offers readers his invaluable insights on the church in order to help leaders make their churches more effective. It's just like hiring your own church consultant, but at a fraction of the cost. This at-a-glance practical guidebook helps pastors and church leaders with a wide variety of issues, including: -reaching different generations -assimilating visitors -following trends -designing worship -danger signs of decline -and many more. Short, to-the point chapters examine trends and ministry methods that can be easily adapted to fit every church's needs.

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  Donald A. McGavran : a biography of the twentieth century's premier missiologist

  Gary McIntosh

  Meet the man who sparked the entire modern church growth movement. In this first full biography of Donald A. McGavran, Gary L. McIntosh tells the complete story of one of the twentieth century's greatest church leaders and influential thinkers. Now, for the first time, discover the roots of the modern Church Growth Movement during the 1950s to understand what is applicable to ministry today. No other person so impacted the growth of the church around the world, as well as in North America, as "Dr. Mac," as his friends called him. McIntosh tells McGavran's compelling story from his years as an evangelistic missionary in India, to his founding of an influential school of missiology, to the beginning of a movement that changed the entire face of mission. Join McIntosh on a discovery of McGavran's life and work as God molded him into the premier missiologist of the twentieth century. When it comes to applicable truths concerning the growth of the Christian church, McGavran's story reveals critical insights that many in ministry today have been missing for far too long.

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  Evaluating the church growth movement : 5 views

  Gary McIntosh

  Gaining form and momentum over the second half of the 20th century, the Church Growth movement has become an enormous shaping force on the Western church today. You may love it, you may hate it, but you can’t deny its impact. But what exactly is Church Growth? In what ways has the movement actually brought growth to the church, and how effective has it been in doing so? What are its strengths and weaknesses? This timely book addresses such questions. After providing a richly informative history and overview, it explores―in a first-ever roundtable of their leading voices―five main perspectives, both pro and con, on the classic Church Growth movement:• Effective Evangelism View (Elmer Towns)• Gospel in Our Culture View (Craig Van Gelder)• Centrist View (Charles Van Engen)• Reformist View (Gailyn Van Rheenan)• Renewal View (Howard Snyder)As in other Counterpoints books, each view is first presented by its proponent, then critiqued by his co-contributors. The book concludes with reflections by three seasoned pastors who have grappled with the practical implications of Church Growth.The interactive and fair-minded nature of the Counterpoints format allows the reader to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each view and draw informed, personal conclusions.The Counterpoints series provides a forum for comparison and critique of different views on issues important to Christians. Counterpoints books address two categories: Church Life and Exploring Theology. Complete your library with other books in the Counterpoints series.

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  Growing God's church : how people are actually coming to faith today

  Gary McIntosh

  It's no secret that the evangelism methods of yesterday are not yielding the kinds of results they did in the 1970s and 1980s. So how are new Christians hearing the Gospel today? How are they finding churches? And what makes them stay at a church? The answers to these questions have the power to dramatically alter the way we do outreach. And Dr. McIntosh has them. Based on ten years of scientific research, Growing God's Church shows pastors and church leaders how people are actually coming to faith in the 21st century. It covers factors such as our motive for ministry, the priorities churches set for themselves, the reality of churchless Christians, generational and gender-based differences in evangelism effectiveness, the name of your church, the influence of pastors, and much more. The appendix includes a copy of the survey that provides the basis for McIntosh's arguments and an overview of the study is provided in the first chapter.

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  Here today, there tomorrow : unleashing your church's potential

  Gary McIntosh

  Church leaders are frustrated! Larger churches are bogged down by the weight of their own organizations, and smaller churches struggle with an inability to get things moving. Medium-sized churches tend to get tangled up in their programming. Pastors and church leaders across the country are in the same plight. As a result, their churches stagnate.

  Veteran leadership expert Gary L. McIntosh provides help to leaders of churches, regardless of size, who struggle to create workable plans to move their congregations forward. This book identifies the best practices on how to assess the unique identity of a church and design a plan for its future. This book is a primer for church leaders who desire to lead their churches in practical planning that does not become so complicated nothing gets done.

  Loaded with case studies, resources, and chapter-by-chapter action plans, this practical resource contains everything a pastor needs to understand the planning process; identify the churches mission, values, and goals; and put it all together in a plan that works in the local setting.

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  Look back, leap forward : building your church on the values of the past

  Gary McIntosh

  The rapid changes all around us in the new millennium may cause one of two errors: wishing to return to an idealized past or refusing to look back at all. Both patterns of thinking lead to ineffective churches and communities. Look Back, Leap Forward challenges Christian leaders to balance the two extremes: look back to find the core values that give meaning to ministry and then use them to build the future and take hold of new opportunities.

  This book's unique focus presents a holistic picture of how lay leadership, not just clergy, can turn a church around. It is packed with practical examples that may be put to immediate use. McIntosh, a church growth specialist, provides step-by-step guidance to help pastors and lay leaders: -recognize and defeat enemies of the twenty-first century church -heal past wounds -look back to discover purpose, values, and vision for the future -accomplish more by doing less -control finances while leaping forward -develop a long-range plan for effective ministry

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  One church, four generations : understanding and reaching all ages in your church

  Gary McIntosh

  The challenge facing today's church is simultaneous and effective ministry to people of four widely divergent generations. More than at any time in history, pastors must plan programs that will appeal to a mosaic of groups and subgroups. This updated edition of Three Generations: Riding the Waves of Change in Your Church adds an entirely new section on Bridgers, the youngest generation and perhaps the most difficult one to reach for Christ. Characteristics, interests, and values of each group--Builders, Boomers, Busters, and Bridgers--are explored in relation to the historical events and social trends that have shaped them. McIntosh thoughtfully analyzes the factors that influence each generation's relationship to the church, and he gives helpful suggestions for types of ministry and worship styles to draw members of that group. Helpful tables offer summaries of information relating to each generation, including formative experiences, religious characteristics, and methods of ministry. Pastors, church leaders, seminary professors, and students will find One Church, Four Generations a valuable resource in mapping out strategies for relevant church programming in the twenty-first century.

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  One Size Doesn't Fit All: Bringing Out the Best in Any Size Church

  Gary McIntosh

  Different churches grow in different ways. This book will help you figure out your church's orientation and show the way to healthy growth.