Books published by Abingdon Press

A deeper dive into understanding the key themes and story-lines of the Bible.

When did being "e;too busy"e; and "e;going through the motions"e; become a way of life? It's no surprise that the rush between meetings and e-mails, sports practices and church functions is tiring, even exhausting. It's time to stop running and start following.Jesus's call to "e;Follow Me"e; was not just an invitation to faith; it was a prescription for living well. Walking through the seven "e;Follow Me"e; statements in the Gospel of Matthew, author Josh Moody explores Jesus's teachings of hope, life, truth, freedom, humility, greatness, and glory in 7 Days to Change Your Life. In each statement and with each teaching, Jesus gets closer to Calvary and closer to the cross, and you get closer to finding a focus for your lifeno matter how hectic it may be.Although following Jesus is not a new concept to believers, following Jesus completely becomes difficult when life moves faster and faster. Organized to be read a chapter a day, Josh meets you in your busy, hectic schedule and reveals a biblical plan to revitalize your life in as little as seven days. Endorsements: ';Wonderfully accessible and culturally relatable, the book isdestined to draw believers young and old to a fuller andever-flourishing relationship with the King of Kings. A must read!' ~Harold B. Smith, President and CEO, Christianity Today';I am confident that readers will find real guidance and genuineenablement in the pages of this thoughtful and readable volume. It isjoy for me to commend this new work.' ~ David S. Dockery, President,Trinity Evangelical Divinity School';At the risk of sounding simplistic he tells us that the way to startagain or to experience a revitalization is to change your mind aboutwhat you've been doing and rethink where you're wanting to go. Buthere's the point - this change of mind is linked to Jesus and therevitalized life is called ';Following Jesus.'' ~ Stuart Briscoe,Speaker, Author, Broadcaster on ';Telling the Truth' ';The biggest need in the church today is for more disciples. Nothipper preachers, or dazzling worship, or even stunning sanctuaries. Thebiggest need is for more believers to follow after Jesus and becomeauthentic disciples. Josh Moody has provided a great service to thechurch in that pursuit with 7 Days to Change Your Life. Absorb itscontents, meditate on its message and learn more exactly how to leaveyour past behind and experience a future walk that is life-changing.' ~J. Paul Nyquist, President, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL';Pastor Josh Moody's new book, 7 Days to Change Your Life, could dojust that. Its relentless focus on what it means to follow Jesus is theright prescription for all such readers. In fact, seven days with thisbook will be life-changing for any and all who are willing to embraceits godly counsel.' ~ Duane Litfin, President Emeritus of WheatonCollege';In 7 Days to Change Your Life, Josh Moody makes a bold promise oflife change... and delivers it. Josh invites us to follow Jesus as thedisciples he has called us to be. In this accessible volume, you'll beable to jump in quickly but still come out changed.' ~ Ed Stetzer, BillyGraham Distinguish Chair, Wheaton College ';This rich seven day curriculum brings to sharp focus and creativeapplication that transformational discipleship so necessary for both theindividual believer and the corporate church body.' ~ David Bruce,Executive Assistant to Billy Graham, Billy Graham EvangelisticAssociation';Are you weary in your walk with the Lord? Has it become routine,mundane, joyless? In this book, you will find a challenge to startagain a 7 day plan that is guaranteed to renew, refresh and redirectyour relationship with the Savior. If you are ready to respond whenJesus says, ';Follow Me,' then open the pages of this book and get readyfor the journey of a lifetime!' ~ Janet Parshall, Nationally SyndicatedTalk Show Host';Josh Moody creatively and compellingly makes the case that followingChrist is the heart of discipleship. From biblical texts and themes,and from his own experience he guides us to new depths of understandingand faithful motivation as followers of Jesus in every-day life.' ~Dennis P. Hollinger, Ph.D., President & Colman M. MocklerDistinguished Professor of Christian Ethics, Gordon Conwell TheologicalSeminary';As Christians, we too often separate our activities such assharing the gospel, doing justice and caring for others from our innerspiritual journey. By focusing on virtues such as hope, humility andtruth, Josh Moody bridges this gap. He encourages us to be contemplativeactivists, having both deep roots and wide branches.' ~ Alec Hill,President Emeritus InterVarsity Christian Fellowship';Josh Moody is a Biblical scholar and a pastor who loves the peoplehe serves. In his book, he uses the structure of a 7-day week toprovide an insightful and thoughtful understanding of our role asdisciples of Christ. In so doing, he reminds us of the importance ofknowing the Jesus we serve, understanding the depth of His love for us,and experiencing the reality of having a relationship with Him for nowand eternity. When the week is over, the reader will have a new andrefreshed understanding of their Lord and Savior.' ~ C. William Pollard,Chairman, Fairwyn Investment Company';Taking his point of departure from Jesus' seven ';Follow me!'statements in Matthew's Gospel, Josh Moody beckons you to follow him on a7-day journey to revitalize your life a time to reflect, refocus, andbe refreshed spiritually. Highly recommended!' ~ Andreas Kostenberger,Author of Excellence, Founder of Biblical Foundations (www.biblicalfoundations.org), and Ministry Council Member of The God-Centered Life';Pastor Josh Moody creatively weaves together themes from several keyNT texts to exhort and encourage Christians to pursue a God-honoring,Christ-exalting lifestyle.' ~ Douglas J. Moo, Wessner Chair of BiblicalStudies, Wheaton College; Chair, Committee on Bible Translation';We forget so easily who we are as Christians and what we are calledto do. Moody reminds us afresh what it means to be a follower of Jesus. In a profound and yet simple way we are addressed anew by Jesus Christhimself as Moody unpacks the call to discipleship.' ~ Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New TestamentInterpretation, Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist TheologicalSeminary';I love the idea of a seven-day personal revival and recommitment ofwhat it means to truly follow Jesus! Josh Moody is going against thetide of endless technology and communication by challenging us to turnoff our phones and TVs at home and to ponder God's Word, grow in graceand truth, and walk in the footsteps of our Savior.' ~ Trevin Wax, Bibleand Reference Publisher for LifeWay Christian Resources, author of ThisIs Our Time, Gospel-Centered Teaching, and Counterfeit Gospels';Josh Moody offers the church a great gift in this engaging andtimely call to radical Christian discipleship. Filled with biblicalinsight and pastoral wisdom, 7 Days to Change Your Life provides a clearand Christ-centered roadmap to the abundant life. If we desire tofollow Jesus in the midst of our current cultural pressures, we cannotafford to ignore his appeal.' ~ David Setran, Price-Lebar Chair ofChristian Formation and Ministry, Wheaton College';Josh Moody provides a unique look at what it means to follow Jesus,using thoughtful illustrations from a wide historical and culturalspectrum. In Seven Days to Change Your Life, new believers will acquire adeeper understanding of true discipleship, and seasoned saints willfind fresh zeal to persevere.' ~ Lydia Brownback, author, Finding God in My Loneliness and A Woman's Wisdom';A mine of biblical wisdom interwoven with pastoral experience andtheological insightfulness to refocus our journey on a God-centeredlife.' ~ Leonardo De Chirico, Pastor and theologian, Rome (Italy),director of the Reformanda Initiative';This wonderful Bible-centred book is a fabulous example of how tofollow Jesus as God's Word shows us, showing how its clear teachingtransforms our lives in a profoundly practical and entirelylife-changing way.' ~ Christopher Catherwood, Historian, Writer, andAuthor of Martyn Lloyd-Jones: His Life and Relevance for the 21stCentury ';7 Days to Change Your Life by Josh Moody is a rich devotional bookwritten by a theologian pastor who is gospel-centered, culturally-savvyand discipleship-driven. This devotional book is not a surfacelight-read for the casual fan of Jesus, but a thorough exposition of thecall to follow Jesus. Read this book and be informed, enriched andtransformed.' ~ Jim Tomberlin, Author, Founder of MultiSite Solutions"e;Dr. Josh Moody provides a much-needed devotional guide in this dayand age for a world which desperately craves and needs spiritualguidance but may not know it. Beautifully written like a parable, thishelpful book, structured around the number 7 (the 7 days of Creation,Jesus's 7 signs, his 7 'follow me' and 'I Am' statements, the 7 Churchesof Revelation)...refocuses the attention on what is most important.' ~Allen Yeh, Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies &Missiology, Biola';There is a lot of confusion in the evangelical church about what ittruly means to follow Jesus. Many Christians talk about the call todiscipleship, but in the midst of our busy lives many of us fail toconsider what the Bible says about this call. So turn away fromdistractions and let Josh Moody help you see anew what John's Gospel andRevelation teach us about this simple call and lifelong challenge. Youwill benefit tremendously from this renewed vision of what it means tobe a disciple of Jesus.' ~ Chris Bruno, author, The Whole Message of the Bible in 16 Words; The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses';Josh Moody is a pastor, a scholar, and, above all, one who wants tolove and follow Jesus Christ. With this book, he guides us on a journeythat stirs, refreshes, and challenges. I believe you will find this bookto be thoughtful, encouraging, insightful, and penetrating. No matterwhere you are on the path of knowing Jesus Christ, this will be abeneficial tool.' ~ Curtis Cook, Pastor of Hope Fellowship Church,Cambridge, MA

From his beginnings as a humble carpenter to his all-important role as the earthly father of Jesus Christ, Joseph's place in the nativity story is sometimes overlooked but contains valuable lessons for all of us. Join Adam Hamilton as he examines Christmas through the eyes of Joseph. Absent from much of the biblical narrative, Joseph never spoke a word, but his courageous actions were crucial to the birth of Christ and God's salvation plan for humanity.As you read this book, you will understand how Joseph's story is much like our own. In life, we encounter circumstances that we would never have chosen for ourselves. At times it can be tempting just to walk away. Joseph provides us a great example of humbly obeying God even when we don't understand and faithfully moving forward in the strength that God provides.Exchange your doubt for courage this Advent and Christmas season. Learn to accept and glorify God's will even when circumstances make it difficult to do so.Additional components for a four-week adult study include a comprehensive Leader Guide and a DVD featuring author and pastor Adam Hamilton. Chapter topics include: A Carpenter Named Joseph Whose Child Is This? Raising a Child Not Your Own The Journey to Bethlehem The Rest of the Story

Explores what Christians believe, why they believe, and why it matters through the Apostles Creed.

Discovering and embracing one's identity has proven to be a long,lonely, rough, and at times, dangerous road for today's teenagers. It'slikely you've chosen this study to use with your youth group because youcare deeply and want the teenagers within your sphere of influence tofind the answers to their identity questions in Jesus Christ. TheI Am study is not a quick fix for your teenagers' needs. It is ahandcrafted tool that, when used by compassionate, caring, and committedadults, will ignite their imagination and excitement for whom theirCreator says they are and the purpose for which they were designed. I Am will likely raise more questions than it answers, and that'sintentional. Don't feel the need to make sure all the loose ends aretied up at the conclusion of your youth gathering. Allow your teens theopportunity to leave with ideas and truths on which to reflect andwrestle as they use the daily devotionals provided in the Groove: I Am Student Journal. The Groove Bible study series invites teens to learn theessentials of their faith, own their story, and engage the world inserving Jesus. Each topical study consists of four weekly sessions thatare easy to lead and relate to life issues teens face. With up to 48weeks available, Groove is great for Sunday and mid-week gatherings forboth large and small groups as well as retreats. The leader guide contains everything needed to lead teens through a Groove study, including teaching outlines, leader notes, Bible background, reflections, and parent communication.

Today's faith and biblical illiteracy in general and among those who attend church and claim to be Christian is staggering. Some alarmists are claiming that the Christian faith is in danger of becoming extinct. We can no longer rely on culture to support the passing on of faith in Jesus Christ to the coming generations. The Basics study is not a quick fix to this situation. It is a handcrafted tool that when used by compassionate, caring, and committed adults, will ignite their imagination for God, the Scripture, the faith community, and living a transformed life. The Basics will likely raise more questions than it answers, and that's intentional. Don't feel the need to make sure all the loose ends are tied up at the conclusion of your youth gathering. Allow your teens the opportunity to leave with ideas and truths on which to reflect and wrestle as they use the daily devotionals provided in the Groove: The Basics Student Journal. The Groove Bible study series invites teens to learn the essentials of their faith, own their story, and engage the world in serving Jesus. Each topical study consists of four weekly sessions that are easy to lead and relate to life issues teens face. With up to 48 weeks available, Groove is great for Sunday and mid-week gatherings for both large and small groups as well as retreats. The leader guide contains everything needed to lead teens through a Groove study, including teaching outlines, leader notes, Bible background, reflections, and parent communication.

Our busy lives are filled with decisions, but are they the important decisions? In this simple, inspiring book, pastor and author Tom Berlin helps us discern six key decisions in our walk with Christ. Includes Scripture, helpful quotations, and space for journaling. 1. The Decision to Follow2. The Decision for a New Life3. The Decision to Mature4. The Decision to Respond5. The Decision to Persevere6. The Decision to Surrender

Rose Anna Zook has watched her two older sisters marry two Stoltzfus menand has always thought she and John, the third Stoltzfus brother, wouldmarry, make a home together, and have children. But John has otherideas. He's enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world a little too much and isn't interested in returning to the Amish communityespecially to marry.RoseAnna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John isequally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will winthis battle of wills? Will love prevail?

The best-loved book with a fresh new look.

This volume offers a timely look at the important topic of integrity. What does integrity mean? What does it involve? How do we "do" integrity? Drawing on his experience as a Christian, a minister, and a pastoral counselor, Ronald J. Greer explores the two sides of integrity: personal integrity and moral integrity. Personal integrity involves an integrated life, where we are in harmony with ourselves, while moral integrity reflects the evolution of the word, as the idea of morality and ethics merged with the concept of wholeness Perfect for the graduate or as a gift for anyone at a key turning point in their lives, this small book provides the insight and guidelines that will become the touchstones for a good, well-lived life.

Stories from the women and men who have served alongside Methodist and United Methodist bishops. When a bishop is elected in The United Methodist Church, it is not only the one elected who is asked to serve but his or her spouse and family as well. Hear the stories of how Methodist and United Methodist episcopal spouses have adjusted to and navigated this life-changing journey. While dealing with the full range of human experiencebirths, deaths, relationship struggles, and illnessthey also travel the world, participate in mission and ceremonies, meet interesting people, and stand up for justice. Through hardships, celebrations, and everyday struggles, these spouses find their own paths of ministry, answering the calls that are also placed upon their lives. In these ways and many others, they also serve.Praise for They Also ServedBishops may ebb and flow in their popularity based on their decisions, but their spouses are almost universally loved and admired. Jane Ives helps readers understand why that is the case with her comprehensive story of the impressive, diverse, and thoroughly dedicated women and men who have contributed so much to God's work.Lovett H. Weems, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership Emeritus, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DCIn the gospel of Luke, Jesus sent the disciples out, two by two, to every town, and country, every charge and conference. Ives' book records the wisdom of sending two, and restores the names of those often forgotten in the story of the people called "e;Methodists,"e; the spouses. These are remarkable oral histories as well as timelines of social holiness and global service. This is not a book about survival in ministry and marriage; it's a testimony to those who thrived in their calling. Heather Murray Elkins, Professor of Worship, Preaching, and the Arts, The Theological School of Drew University, Madison, New JerseyThis is a book about discipleship. It is also a book about ministry and itinerancy.It tells stories of how God sometimes calls two people to the work of episcopacy, people who happen to be married to each other. It is a book that will make you laugh and cry!This book is an important addition to the literature of Methodist episcopacy. And it is a hard book to put down!William Boyd Grove, Bishop (Ret.) of The United Methodist ChurchJane Ives has given the Methodist family a priceless treasure. Through an astonishing effort to collect memories and explore archival material, she has compiled a comprehensive record of episcopal spouses, their stories, accomplishments, and contributions to the church. But this book is more than a biographical dictionary. It offers a poignant, insightful account of the lives of bishops, their spouses and families, and the impact of the church's expectations on all of them. As a little boy, I knew firsthand the phone call: get on a train to New Orleans with your sister; your Daddy is going to be a bishop. Allow me to testify, then, that this book is the real deal -- genuine, human, and rich with faith and Spirit.Thomas E. Frank, Associate Dean for Continuing Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Jewish dedication and commitment to studying Scripture is nothing short of inspiring. Jews have long been known as careful examiners of the Bible, dedicated to understanding and growing from God's word. In traditional synagogues, the Torah is read three times per week, and each week, one of the Torah portions is examined. These encounters not only allow Jews to study God's instruction for faith but also provide valuable inspiration for living that faith in the everyday. In Shalom for the Heart, popular author and speaker Rabbi Evan Moffic reveals the wisdom of the Torah for today's Christians. Beautifully written weekly Torah-inspired devotions are offered to encourage readers throughout the year. Through his readings, Moffic invites Christians to engage in a study pattern of the Jewish founders of the faith, to grow deeper in relationship with Jesus, and find meaning, comfort, and direction for our lives. Endorsement:';Most Christiansmyself certainly includedhave somuch to learn from the Jewish tradition and the study of the Torah, andfrom Judaism's respect for the law and value on ritual and connectionwithin their community. This book is a gift for every Christian,anchoring us to a beautiful shared history that can deepen and enrichour understanding and our faith.' ~ Shauna Niequist, best-selling authorand speaker

What our Wesleyan legacy means for today's living.

Annotated and critical edition of the letters of one of early Methodism's most influential founders.

A six-week stewardship program that presents giving as a lifelong journey in Christian discipleship