Books published by Zondervan

Is it possible to disagree politically and love unconditionally? The reaction of evangelicals to political and cultural shifts in recent years revealed what they value most. Lurking beneath our Bible-laced rhetoric, faith claims, books, and sermons is a relentless drive to WIN!But the church is not here to win. By every human measure, our Savior lost. On purpose. With a purpose. And we are his body. We are not in it to win anything. We are in it for something else entirely. That something else is what this book is about.You'll discover:How to take a stand the right way. You'll learn how to make your case with a posture of humility and understanding, rather than being fueled by the fear of losing something.How to view politics through the lens of faith. Learn curiously, listen intentionally, and love unconditionally.How the life of Jesus and his teaching applies to modern-day challenges in a fresh way. The "e;biblical"e; stand may not be what we've been taught.Jesus never asked his followers to agree on everything. But he did call his followers to obey a new command: to love others in the same way he has loved us. Instead of asserting our rights or fighting for power, we need to begin asking ourselves: what does love require of me?

Conversations about racism are as important as they are hard for American Christians.Yet the conversation often gets so ugly, even among the faithful who claim unity in Jesus. Why is that the case? Why does it matter? Can things get better, or are we permanently divided?In this honest and hopeful book, pastor Isaac Adams doesn't just show you how to have the race conversation, he begins it for you. By offering a fictional, racially charged tragedy in order to understand varying perspectives and responses, he examines what is at stake if we ignore this conversation, and why there's just as much at stake in how we have that discussion, especially across color lines--that is, with people of another ethnicity. This unique approach offers insight into how to listen to one another well and seek unity in Christ. Looking to God's Word, Christians can find wisdom to speak gracefully and truthfully about racism for the glory of God, the good of their neighbors, and the building up of the church.Some feel that the time for talking is over, and that we've heard all this before. But given how polarized American society is becoming--its churches not exempt--fresh attention on the dysfunctional communication between ethnicities is more than warranted. Adams offers an invitation to faithfully combat the racism so many of us say we hate and maintain the unity so many of us say we want. Together we can learn to speak in such a way that we show a divided world a different world.Talking About Race points to the starting line, not the finish line, when it comes to following Jesus amid race relations. It's high time to begin running.

Your most pressing questions about Christianity are answered in bestselling author Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ Answer Booklet. This 64-page booklet is filled with short, easy-to-understand Qand A about important faith issues.

A single work that surveys both Testaments in the form of a historical survey of the Bible. Four-color throughout.

The Weekly Purpose Project is a yearlong guided journal that weaves together Bible verses, thoughtful questions, gorgeous photography, soft watercolor images, and mindful reflections to help you identify and pursue the purpose God has for your life.

When Mama Bear overhears the cubs and Papa talking about their favorite Easter candies, she realizes a lesson in the real meaning of Easter is needed. Includes a colorful sheet of stickers. Full color. Consumable.

In This Dangerous Book, the founders of the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C., and plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, Steve and Jackie Green share the history, authenticity, and power of the Bible in this fascinating look at the world's most influential book.

These updated discussion starters based on the wisdom books of the Old Testament can stand alone or lead into a full-blown Bible study with help from the leaders' accompanying instructions. Includes Bible references, Internet resources, and other suggested further activities.

TalkSheets have been working for youth group leaders for more than a decade. Now they are radically updated and ready to stimulate high schoolers toward in-depth discussions on real issues--everything from drinking to social justice.

Teenagers learn more by conversing among themselves than by somebody talking at them. These updated TalkSheets--based on the wisdom of Kings David and Solomon--cover topics of perennial relevance and high interest to today's teens.

Get Your Students Talking About the Bible And God. And themselves, their beliefs, their questions, their lives. About the things that matter to them.Do it conveniently and effectively with Junior High-Middle School TalkSheets--Updated!, part of the best-selling discussion-starting TalkSheets series from Youth Specialties, now updated for new-millennium students. Here are 50 creative discussions that focus on relevant, real-life topics:Media Influences--TV, Music, AdvertisingSubstance Abuse & Peer PressureParentsSelf-Image & Physical AppearanceJesusFriendshipsPrayer & WorshipTrusting God & Dealing with Doubt. . . and 40 more subjects of perennial interest to teenagers.TalkSheets are one-page reproducible handouts with provocative questions in a compelling design that will get churched and unchurched kids alike talking and thinking about the Bible--and how its principles affect their daily lives.Use TalkSheets to launch your own lesson--or use them as stand-alone Bible studies. Each TalkSheet comes with detailed information and suggestions for discussion leaders: Bible references galore, Internet resources, further group exploration, and activities to pursue during and after the meeting.Junior High-Middle School TalkSheets--Updated! is the perfect discussion-starting resource for youth meetings, small groups and cell groups, Sunday school, and camps and retreats.More than a quarter million copies sold in this series!

Today, traditional forms of preaching are being scrutinized and challenged. The biblical sermon is not immune to the pressure to evolve or even fall by the wayside, leaving pastors and seminary students confused over how best to communicate to today's listeners. In this forward-looking textbook, Kenton Anderson delivers a strong call to current and future ministers to indeed choose to preach biblical sermons, despite the obstacles to doing so. While preaching itself is non-negotiable, the exact form it takes can be much more flexible, allowing people to hear from God as they hear his Word preached. Rather than presenting one model or process for preparing a sermon, Anderson explains several available options. As you discern your message from the Bible, will you begin with the text (deductive) or with the listener (inductive)? Will you focus on the idea (cognitive) or the image (affective)? The choices you make lead to five possible sermon structures: * DECLARATIVE-make an argument * PRAGMATIC-solve a mystery * NARRATIVE-tell a story * VISIONARY-paint a picture * INTEGRATIVE-sing a song Each model is described in detail and related to well-known contemporary preachers, including John MacArthur, Rick Warren, Eugene Lowry, and Rob Bell. This book equips you with a variety of tools for your preaching tool kit. A CD-ROM with additional helpful resources is included, as well as discussion questions and practical exercises.

Religious freedom is up for debate and needs to be defended--discover how.In Religious Freedom in a Secular Age author Michael Bird argues that religious freedom should not be preserved by churches entrusting themselves to the protection of a conservative leader draped in the apparel of civil religion, nor should they consent to allowing religious freedom to be steam rolled by progressive activists with their increasing hostility towards people of faith. What is needed instead is a better appreciation for how secularism can work to create space for people of all faiths and none, to resolve tense relationships between church and state, and to come to a fair and equitable settlement when religious liberty and LGBTQI+ rights come into conflict. Bird tackles complicated debates about the nature, extent, and limitations of religious freedom with a view to encouraging Christians to stand up for their faith in a post-Christian world in a way that is humble and gentle yet also courageous.Advance Praise:"e;This book's global perspective will challenge readers of all backgrounds and beliefs toward better arguments and better understanding."e; - John D. Inazu, Washington University in St. Louis"e;Bird demonstrates that religious liberty is of interest not only to Christians but also to the marketplace of ideas that helped deepen faith while simultaneously making room for peaceable difference."e; - Andrew T. Walker, professor and author of Liberty for All

Do you feel stuck? Unsure of where you want your life to go or what you're called to do? Entrepreneur and business coach Jennifer Allwood knows the courage and obedience it takes to push past the excuses, the history, and the distractions that hold you back so you can reach for the life God has for you.In Get Unstuck and Stay Unstuck, Jennifer Allwood motivates and encourages you to seek a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationship with God. She equips you to identify what is holding you back, to embrace change, to practice obedience, and to find the courage to get unstuck--and stay that way.This high-design four-color book offers straightforward, honest advice and steps for men and women to:face your fearspray and listen for God's guidancemove past obstaclesgrow with the help of a compassionate guideenhance spiritual developmentWith space for journaling and questions that encourage deeper reflection, this portable and giftable book is a beautiful gift or self-purchase for someone who is looking to make a decision, get over a hurdle, climb out of a pit, or transcend to the next level, whether personally, professionally, in relationships, and more.Journey with Jennifer Allwood as she coaches you to a life of purpose and bravery as you reach for God's dreams for you.

When left unchecked, our thoughts can spiral out of control. We try harder and worry more as we watch the headlines and fill our calendars. But only God can bring us the relief from anxiety that our souls long for. Even in difficult times, we can experience God's presence. Calm Your Anxious Mind offers daily invitations to embrace the peacefulness God gives us no matter our circumstances.In Calm Your Anxious Mind, men and women will find:inspiring and comforting Scripture versesquotations about giving and receiving God's peaceprayer prompts and thoughtful reflections on trusting Godpractical ideas for living beyond anxietyinsights into triggers for anxietyWith a topical table of contents, research-based strategies for easing an anxious mind, and continual reminders of God's love, this yearlong devotional will help you:process and let go of anxiety about finances, politics, and illnesspractice mindfulness techniquesnurture body and soul with ideas you can implement immediatelystay connected with those you loveCalm. Quiet. Settled. No matter what is happening in your life or around you, you can receive a spiritual peace that is beyond understanding. Find daily comfort and inspiration in this timely devotional designed to ease the anxieties of your heart and mind.

In the town of Birch Creek where the only danger is getting swept off your feet, Katharine Miller hides the secrets of her past . . . until she meets Ezra Bontrager and is forced to face the greatest risk of allopening her heart to true loveAfter fleeing her hometown, Katharine finds peace and anonymity while working at Stoll's Inn and keeping to herself. As long as her guard is up, she can protect herself and others from her past, with the hope that one day her family will forgive her for leaving.Ezra Bontrager has never shared a love of farming with his brothers and father, and when he takes a job at Stoll's Inn, he quickly finds even more reason to come to work every day. Although he has no intention of marrying anytime soon, Ezra can't help but want to learn more about the quiet and mysterious newcomer who doesn't appear to have come to Birch Creek looking for a husband, as so many have done after the want ad that advertised Birch Creek's many bachelors.As Katharine and Ezra continue to cross paths, Katharine feels her defenses lower, and Ezra no longer scoffs at the idea of marriage. Just as they start to hope for the future, the past comes roaring backnot just for Katharine and Ezra but for the entire community of Birch Creek. Confronting that past won't be easy, but it brings the opportunity for love and grace to abound.Praise for Love in Plain Sight';Katharine Miller has everything she ever wants, until she realizes what she's gotten. Love in Plain Sight is Kathleen Fuller at her best. She shines the spotlight on an unlikely heroine who runs away to find herselfand discovers what true love looks like.' Suzanne Woods Fisher, bestselling author of Mending Fences.';Kathleen Fuller's emotional and evocative writing draws readers into her complex stories and keeps them cheering for her endearing characters even after the final page.' Patricia Davids, USA TODAY bestselling authorSweet Amish romanceThe third book in the Amish Mail-Order Bride series but can be read in any orderBook One: A Double Dose of LoveBook Two: Matched and MarriedBook Three: Love in Plain SightBook length: 84,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

Did you know Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime and that during the last three months of his life he completed an average of one painting every day?Did you know that Michelangelo's David is covered in a dusting of human skin?Did you know Caravaggio murdered several people while he was painting some of the most glorious paintings of biblical scenes the world has ever known?Rembrandt Is in the Wind by Russ Ramsey is an invitation to discover some of the world's most celebrated artists and works, while presenting the gospel of Christ in a way that speaks to the struggles and longings common to the human experience.The book is part art history, part biblical study, part philosophy, and part analysis of the human experience; but it's all story. The lives of the artists in this book illustrate the struggle of living in this world and point to the beauty of the redemption available to us in Christ. Each story is different. Some conclude with resounding triumph while others end in struggle. But all of them raise important questions about humanity's hunger and capacity for glory, and all of them teach us to love and see beauty.

Behind many of the challenges facing us today is a failure of leadership. This is not a new problem. Yearning for wise guidance and effective authority is a perennial human longing. We need leaders who are credible, competent and committed. But many leaders seem to be caught up, even consumed, with their own power and agendas. Some see the leadership crisis as an intellectual problem, believing we lack a clear theory of leadership. Others view the breakdown of leadership as a result of increasing deficiency in moral character.Most leadership books today revolve around the concepts of motivation, inspiration, empowerment, and teamwork. Helpful as these themes might be, they miss something more fundamental. Leadership needs a theological foundation, that will be useful for shaping the undergirding principles, and evaluating current leadership theories and practices. We need to view leadership from the vantage point of God.In Rooted Leadership, John E. Johnson explores how Christian theology provides an overarching leadership framework and applies that theory to leadership practices. Spiritual reflection, guided by scripture, points us to the very center of leadership--God--and the purpose of leadership--that we might display his glory. All the best forms of leading take their cues from who God is, his purposes, and his ways of working with people that he has progressively revealed.Building on three decades of research, study, and experience as a global leader, Johnson surveys the landscape of contemporary leadership theory, unpacks the assumptions and beliefs that underly current trends, and responds by offering a robust approach to leadership, founded on the character, work, and words of God.

Life is a hot mess. There's the bedlam of getting out the door in the morning. The constant breaking down of our homes and bodies and the cars we drive. And the institutions that promise to help are often no better. We are surrounded by the constant disorder of governments and disappointed by "e;organized"e; religion, the very entities that tell us they can provide us sanity and security. Instead, they leave us scratching our heads or licking our wounds. Chaos surrounds us, and at times, it seems to rule our souls, our families, and our world.But does chaos always end in failure or flaw?What if chaos was more than the check engine light of lost causes? What if chaos was the raw material out of which God creates? In the beginning God brought order from chaos, filling the chaos with a beautiful creation, and he's been doing it ever since. Where you and I may experience confusion and disorder, God sees an opportunity for something new--for a rebirth, a renewal, and a renovation. God did this in the beginning, he did it again at the cross, and with renewed vision for our disordered world today, we look to God to do it again.Inspired by the powerful picture of creation in Genesis 1:2, author Jessica LaGrone challenges the hope-destroying belief that God has abandoned us in our broken relationships, our pain, and our grief. In the midst of our out-of-control lives, God is there, and he specializes in making new things from the chaos threatens to drown us. When we experience chaos in our own lives and everything feels like it is falling apart, God is just getting started. When the Spirit of God hovers, chaos can give birth to hope.

In the year 1095, Pope Urban II declared war on the infidel. Kings, princes, and lords throughout Europe have joined the Crusade. To Murdo Ranulfson has fallen the duty of guarding his family's interests while his father and brothers fight to win Jerusalem. But when corrupt clergy prove enemies rather than protectors, Murdo must leave his native Scotland in search of his father. In the company of monks and warriors, he journeys far beyond the rolling fields of home, beyond the fabled Constantinople and the brooding walls of Antioch, to the Holy Land and the sword points of the Saracens. There, where blood, suffering, and human evil at its most horrifying are shot through with rays of the miraculous, he obtains the relic that will guide his life and the lives of his descendants for centuries. And there he grows from a callow youth to a man, trading cynicism for faith and selfishness for the heart of a leader. Steeped in heroism, treachery, and the clamor of battle, The Iron Lance begins a remarkable, masterfully woven epic trilogy of a Scottish noble family fighting for its existence and its faith during the age of the Great Crusades -- and of a secret society that will shape history for a thousand years.

Fiona Plays Soccer: In this Level 1 I Can Read book about Fiona the hippo, emergent readers join Fiona and her friends find a soccer ball and decide to play. But what happens when the ball gets stuck in a tree, lost in the pond, and goes down a meerkat hole?

Fiona Gets the Sniffles: In this Level 1 I Can read book about Fiona the hippo, emergent readers join Fiona and her friends Fox, Cheetah, and Chicken as they figure out just how to help Mr. Elephant feel better when he gets the sniffles and sneezes.

In Male vs. Man, actor, social activist, and restoration coach Dondre Whitfield offers males a heart-to-heart look at what it takes to become a true man - one that lives righteously - and informs men how to find joy and purpose in serving their families and communities.

An Enneagram book like no other, How We Relate helps you discover how God speaks into your unique personality and life story to make the gospel come alive for you.In How We Relate, Enneagram coach and host of The EnneaCast podcast Jesse Eubanks invites you to discover who you are. In this illustrated guide, he expertly utilizes the Enneagram to lead you to the heart of Jesus, where you will find the wholeness you long for.As you peel back the layers of your False Self, encounter Jesus, and experience the redemption of your True Self, you will discover how to:Understand your personality and the personalities of othersExplore your distinct approach to relationshipsDiscover how Jesus empathizes with and heals your unique core woundInterpret the Enneagram through the gospel storyExperience more meaningful relationships with God, others, and yourself Life is about relationships. It''s time to transform yours.