Recommended Reading
Books
Joining Jesus on His Mission
Greg Finke
Are you ready to go beyond living your life for Jesus to living life with Jesus? Joining Jesus on His Mission will alter the way you see your life as a follower of Jesus. Simple, powerful and applicable insights show you how to be on mission and recognize where Jesus is already at work in your neighborhoods, workplaces and schools.
Loaded Words
Heather Choate Davis
No one wants to be part of a religion filled with old, hard, mean-sounding words Sin. Hell. Repent. Submit. Judgment. The funny thing is that at the heart of each of these "loaded words" are some of the most beautiful, gracious, life-giving truths that words can convey. Unfortunately, these words have gotten so weighed down with social, cultural and doctrinal baggage that even practicing Christians are hard-pressed to embrace or explain them. That's where Loaded Words comes in. By showing how and why these key faith terms have been misused, abused, and wholly misunderstood—both in the church and in the culture—we can "unload" them, revealing their original language and context, and re-introducing the great mercy, comfort and joy behind the teachings of Jesus. Written in a lively and highly accessible style and illuminated with contemporary aha! moments, Loaded Words opens up the wisdom of 12 foundational Bible words in a whole new way.
Father's Vineyard
Cindy Steinbeck
Father’s Vineyard takes you on a tour of Steinbeck Vineyards in Paso Robles, California, Cindy’s spectacular classroom! Join Cindy in her vintage Jeep for a unique vineyard tour as she answers the question, "why did Jesus say, I am the Vine, you are the branches?" Rich connections to life will engage you and prayerfully challenge you as Cindy unfolds grafting, pruning and training the vines, growing and picking the fruit, making and enjoying wine. The true vine and the vinedresser guide our journey into growth, healing, and bearing fruit that will last.
God's Provision in a Wilderness World
Lindsay Hausch
An eight-week women's Bible study, God's Provision in a Wilderness World explores sections of the Book of Exodus and applies them to the here and now, for readers on their own journey through their own wilderness. Readers are left with the message that despite life circumstances, despite the readers' own wildernesses that are out of their control and difficult, God will deliver them from their wilderness. God's Provision in a Wilderness World is designed to be used as a study for individuals as well as small groups. Each week includes five Bible studies, for a total of 40, with space to journal and prompts for readers' reflections.
Leading Multicultural Teams
Evelyn and Richard Hibbert
Churches and mission agencies are increasingly characterized by cultural diversity. As a result, many Christians find themselves working as part of a multicultural team. Leading these teams is a complex challenge that requires team leaders to understand how to help multicultural teams thrive. Team leaders need to know how to help team members grow in particular qualities and acquire specific skills related to multicultural teamwork. This book integrates insights from the Bible, team theory, leadership, and intercultural studies to explain how leaders of multicultural teams can help their teams become enriching and enjoyable contexts to work in, at the same time as achieving their purpose.
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Ministering in Honor-Shame Cultures by Jayson Georges and Mark Baker: Many a Westerner has had a cross-cultural experience of honor and shame. First there are those stuttering moments in the new social landscape. Then after missed cues and social bruises comes the revelation that this culture―indeed much of the world―runs on an honor-shame operating system. When Western individualism and its introspective conscience fails to engage cultural gears, how can we shift and navigate this alternate code? And might we even learn to see and speak the gospel differently if we did? In Ministering in Honor-Shame Cultures Jayson Georges and Mark Baker help us decode the cultural script of honor and shame. What's more, they assist us in reading the Bible anew through the lens of honor and shame, often with startling turns. And they offer thoughtful and practical guidance in ministry within honor-shame contexts. Apt stories, illuminating insights and ministry-tested wisdom complete this well-rounded guide to Christian ministry in honor-shame cultures.
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Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O'Brien: Biblical scholars Brandon O'Brien and Randy Richards shed light on the ways that Western readers often misunderstand the cultural dynamics of the Bible. They identify nine key areas where modern Westerners have significantly different assumptions about what might be going on in a text. Drawing on their own crosscultural experience in global mission, O'Brien and Richards show how better self-awareness and understanding of cultural differences in language, time and social mores allow us to see the Bible in fresh and unexpected ways. Getting beyond our own cultural assumptions is increasingly important for being Christians in our interconnected and globalized world. Learn to read Scripture as a member of the global body of Christ.
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Disposable: When Dating is Not Loving Your Neighbor by Daniel E. Johnson:Are you tired of the dominant dating culture where people are considered disposable? Disposable explains that culture, which is based on selfishness, and draws a stark contrast between the selfishness of dating and the love called for by the great commandments, in particular, the commandment to love our neighbor. Disposable shows that these commandments would have us make friendship the basis of our relationships, including romantic ones. A historical review of marriage-minded relationships includes a discussion of how dating arose, how it evolved, and how friendship got shortchanged in the process.This book was presented at the CNH Pastors Conference in October 2019.