Thom Rainer
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How To Teach The Old Testament To Christians
$16.99Add to cartDiscover the Richness of the Old Testament
The Hebrew Scriptures are the beginning of-and foundation for-God’s incredible story of redemption. Studying the Old Testament, and its relationship to God’s new covenant, inspires wonder and awe at God’s grand plan of salvation that spans millennia. Tragically, too many preachers and Bible teachers don’t have the time or inclination to dive into the depths of the Old Testament. T. J. Betts, respected professor of Old Testament interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, provides a convenient solution in this book:
*By walking you through the steps to effectively preach and teach the Old Testament
*By describing how to interpret the stories and narratives in the Hebrew Scriptures
*By outlining how to present, illustrate, and apply the Old Testament to people’s livesYou’ll want this book in your library because it is a tool for unpacking Scripture.
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Mission Of God And You
$16.99Add to cartYou Have a Purpose. God Has a Part for You to Play in Something Big.
You were created by God, called to follow Christ, and commissioned to make disciples. When Jesus gave this commission, it wasn’t a last-minute thought before he ascended into heaven. It was a mandate for all his followers to participate in a movement of God already in motion.
What is God’s will for my life?
Where does my life fit into God’s purpose?If the idea that you have a purpose and mission feels daunting, keep in mind that you cannot mess up the story of what God is doing. But you can miss out on being a part of it.
The Mission of God and You will expand your missional view of the Bible and your biblical view of the world. You’ll traverse the globe and grasp the urgency of our mission. You’ll hear the stories of a great cloud of witnesses, both past and present, and gain perspective on how God has worked and is working. You’ll be challenged to leverage every season of your life to advance the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Don’t wait. God is inviting you to participate in the most significant movement the world has ever known.
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Money In The Light Of Eternity
$16.99Add to cartYou Are Created for More.
Our hearts are filled with all types of longings-yearnings for contentment, satisfaction, and happiness. We all want to be part of something greater than ourselves. Yet our biggest temptation is to try to satisfy those longings by seeking after more money and more stuff. That is junk food for our souls, full of quickly fading pleasure that leaves us unhealthier than we were before.
We deeply desire God and the good gifts that come from him alone. It’s the way we’re wired.
Does your heart long to be a part of something greater than yourself?
God’s most ambitious mission is ready for you to join. When was the last time you used money in a way that brought about deep, refreshing happiness and satisfaction for yourself and for others?
Money in Light of Eternity helps you see money the way God views it. When you follow God’s design for your life, you will find what no large bank account, big house, or fast car could ever provide. You will find your true heart.
You were created for so much more.
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Brief Walk Through Christian History
$16.99Add to cartHow Christianity Grew from a Dozen Disciples to a Worldwide Movement
At the beginning of the first century, a teacher named Jesus of Nazareth shook Roman-occupied Israel with his preaching and teaching. When, several years later, the Romans crucified Jesus and sealed him in a tomb, his disciples were crushed and confused.
Two thousand years later, more than two billion followers of Jesus can be found around the globe. Justin Gatlin tells the story of how that happened–from the miraculous resurrection of Jesus to the spread of Christianity throughout Africa and Asia in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. For each era covered in A Brief Walk through Christian History, Justin shows how Christians from that time period:
*responded to Christ’s call to spread the gospel message,
*described and defined what it means to be a follower of Christ
*taught and discipled people who joined the church.It is an amazing story–one in which you can see the hand of God in the growth and expansion of the church.
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Surprising Return Of The Neighborhood Church
$16.99Add to cartOpportunity Lies Right Down the Road.
There’s hope for your church. Respected church expert Sam Rainer envisions an exciting new wave of revitalized neighborhood churches that are growing and thriving. In the not-so-distant past, churches tended to relocate away from their neighborhoods and build large campuses at major intersections. At the turn of the 21st century, a dramatic shift occurred: A new generation began looking to neighborhood churches to foster life-giving friendships, provide opportunities for service, and create a community dedicated to worshiping God. Sam Rainer describes this movement and answers the most common questions about this surprising new phenomenon:
*What are the marks of a healthy neighborhood church?
*What are the most common myths about the neighborhood church?
*What are the obstacles to church growth?
*What are the best strategies to reach your neighbors?The neighborhood church is primed for a comeback. The potential is huge. God wants to do incredible things. Are you ready?
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When The People Pray
$14.99Add to cartA convenient and easy way for pastors to ask for the prayer support they desperately need.
“Will you pray for me?” is a question pastors hear every day. But when have you heard a pastor ask that question for themselves? Frankly, it’s rare. That was the question Thom Rainer asked his congregation. The response was overwhelming. Within two days, more than one hundred people committed to praying for him, and the church was transformed over the next year. Thom cannot imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t overcome his initial reluctance to be that vulnerable with his congregation.
In this book, there are thirty reflections and thirty prayers that give church members a glimpse into the struggles most pastors face and helps them pray in specific ways. In the back of this book, there are instructions on how to start a prayer ministry for your pastor, a prayer ministry for members of your pastor’s family, and a thirty-day prayer challenge.
God promises to honor the prayers of his people.
When the People Pray is an invitation to unleash those promises. -
Pray And Go
$14.99Add to cartSpend the next 30 days reaching your community in prayer and learn what it means to be a Great Commission Christian.
Pray & Go is a profound and easy-to-use tool that empowers church members to focus outward and learn how to pray regularly. There’s hope. Imagine your congregation devoted to prayer. Envision a healthy and growing church dedicated to worshiping Jesus.
Our neighborhoods need prayer like never before. Pray & Go is designed to provide convenient opportunities for everyone in your church to participate in and experience the incredible power of prayer. It’s easy. Anyone can do it. Just be present and pray.
When Jesus left his followers to be reunited with God the Father, his parting command to them was to wait. The believers obeyed by gathering, praying together, and waiting for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them. Pray & Go is focused on following in the footsteps of those early Christians.
It’s a 30-day journey of praying and going, waiting for God and then going outside the church’s four walls in obedience to Jesus’ command. Both adults and young people enjoy the Pray & Go program because it isn’t cumbersome or time-consuming. It requires a small commitment each month to prayer and outreach.
*Pray & Go contains 30 daily focus topics to pray for, including:
*Praying for Great Commission church members
*Praying for your pastor
*Praying for unity
*Praying for reconciliationJust pray and go. Yes, it’s that simple. You will be amazed by what God will do when your church family is praying for each other and for the community.
Accompanying video Church Campaign Kit through Church Answers available online.
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I Believe : A Concise Guide To The Essentials Of The Christian Faith
$14.99Add to cartWho is God? Why am I here? How should I live? These are a few of the crucial questions about life that must be answered. What’s exciting is that God has provided those answers in Scripture. In I Believe, Thom Rainer outlines the essentials of the Christian faith in a clear and succinct way. You’ll learn about prayer, church, angels, heaven, the Trinity, and much more.
Read and discuss these Christian beliefs in a small group at your local church. It was within a church that Thom Rainer first experienced the power of these profound yet simple truths to utterly transform his life.
The urgent need of our day is for Christians to understand who they are, what they believe, and how that affects what they do. The best place to answer those life questions is in the context of the local church. It’s nothing short of miraculous what God will do through a group of devoted Christians who become committed and selfless church members.
Studying I Believe with a small group of Christians will give you a solid base of truth on which to anchor your life in Christ.
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Disciple : How To Create A Community That Develops Passionate And Healthy F
$16.99Add to cartCan you identify the key qualities of a committed, passionate, and healthy disciple of Jesus? Chuck Lawless, a respected professor, pastor, and church consultant, discovered that many pastors haven’t thought deeply about that question. He wrote this book to provide answers and transform churches for the better.Many church leaders know their communities well and who they are aiming to make disciples of Christ. But too often they haven’t thoroughly articulated their goals and painted a vision for what a disciple looks like within their specific communities. In this book, Dr. Chuck Lawless provides a model for church leaders to build committed disciples of Christ.In Disciple, Chuck LawlessDefines biblical discipleship and explores why church leaders sometimes neglect to teach what a faithful and committed disciple of Jesus isGuides pastors and church leaders in developing an effective discipleship model and process for their churchesExplains the potential obstacles to a thriving discipleship program and how to overcome themWhen a church is filled with passionate and healthy followers of Jesus, there’s a sense that something special is happening. Are you ready to unleash that power in your congregation?
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I Am A Christian Participants Guide (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartWhat does it really mean to be a Christian?
In a world where everything from sports to politics, social media to podcasts, and movies to television vies for our attention, we need to get back to what is essential. I Am a Christian Participant’s Guide helps people grasp who they are in Christ and what their participation means to their local church through an eight-session workbook designed for use with the companion DVD experience (sold separately).
Based on the book I Am a Christian, by respected author and church consultant Thom Rainer, this guide is a great resource for any Christian. Designed to be used with groups or individually, I Am a Christian Participant’s Guide will:
*help you clarify your purpose and mission
*encourage you to become a committed church member
*help Christian communities become healthy places so they can make a significant impact on the world(Don’t miss the companion I Am a Christian DVD Experience!)
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I Am A Christian
$14.99Add to cartIn this concise book, respected pastor, author, and church consultant Thom Rainer explains how the local church is God’s primary plan for reaching the world with his love. “I am a Christian” and “I am a church member” go hand in hand.
What does it really mean to be a Christian? In a world where everything from sports to politics, social media to podcasts, and movies to television vies for our attention, we need to get back to what is essential. We need to know who we truly are and who we serve.
When people finally grasp who they are in Christ and what their participation means to their local church, everything changes. Life begins to make sense. Their purpose becomes clear. Their mission through their local church is confirmed. Their hearts start longing to cooperate with God in the company of fellow believers. When Christians become committed church members, the church becomes healthy. When the church becomes healthy, communities become healthy. When communities become healthy, the world can be transformed.
The urgent need of our day is for Christians to understand who they are, what they believe, and how that affects what they do. And the best place to answer those crucial life questions is in the context of the local church. It’s nothing short of amazing and miraculous what God will do through a group of devoted Christians who become committed and selfless church members. I Am a Christian is your first step on that incredible journey.
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I Am A Christian DVD Experience (DVD)
$29.99Add to cartWhat does it really mean to be a Christian?
In a world where everything from sports to politics, social media to podcasts, and movies to television vies for our attention, we need to get back to what is essential. I Am a Christian DVD Experience helps people grasp who they are in Christ and what their participation means to their local church through an eight-session video series designed for use with the companion participant’s guide and the I Am a Christian book (each sold separately).
When people understand their identity and purpose, everything changes for them. Life begins to make sense. Their purpose becomes clear. Their mission through their local church is confirmed.
Based on the book I Am a Christian, by respected author and church consultant Thom Rainer, this DVD is a great resource for any Christian. It will:
*help you clarify your purpose and mission
*encourage you to become a committed church member
*help Christian communities become healthy places so they can make a significant impact on the world(Don’t miss the companion I Am a Christian Participant’s Guide, sold separately.)
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Understanding The Bible As A Whole
$16.99Add to cartEverything you need to grasp God’s big picture in Scripture so you can dive deeper into each book of the Bible.
Every single word in the Bible is powerful and purposeful. But too often we can be guilty of thinking that the details of God’s plan for us must be buried in obscurity somewhere in the vastness of the Bible–as if we’re missing God because we missed that tiny iota subscript in the original Greek. What if it is the opposite? What if our daily purpose, our next step tomorrow, our discernment in the moment comes from a broad understanding of God’s revelation in the Bible? When you grasp God’s Word holistically, your life begins to make more sense each and every day. In this book, Sam Rainer will help you:
*Understand God’s big picture as revealed in the Bible
*Explore the major themes of Scripture
*Know quickly and easily the subject and purpose of each book of the BibleSee the entire masterpiece instead of focusing on the brushstrokes. Understand the broad themes that occur from Genesis to Revelation to find God’s purpose and plan for your life.
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Anatomy Of A Revived Church
$14.99Add to cartThere is hope. God can save your church.
In this book, Thom Rainer reveals seven findings of revived churches. Through new research, he figuratively dissects hundreds of churches that were on the path toward death. But they turned around. They revitalized. They did so in the face of facts and naysayers who told them it could not be done. Today, three out of four churches are declining in our nation, and twenty percent of churches are close to death. What are the secrets of the churches who avoided this fate and experienced revival?
In Anatomy of a Revived Church, Thom will show you how these churches experienced renewal. He will cover everything from “expanding the scorecard” to “dealing with toxins” to “choosing meaningful membership.” When you finish reading this book, you will have the tools to strengthen, restore, and energize your church.
You can choose life for your church.
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How To Lead A Healthy Small Group
$16.99Add to cartThis book shares all you need to know to lead a healthy small group.
You have agreed to head up a small group in your church. Now what? How to Lead a Healthy Small Group is your complete guide to managing a small group effectively. From dealing with conflict to knowing how to direct difficult discussions, this book will be an invaluable resource to you as you lead your small group and encourage it to thrive.
In this book, Pastor Kevin Mills:
*explores the characteristics of a healthy small group and many of the issues you will face as a leader;
*explains how to address common issues that arise in small groups; and
*offers insights into how to equip your members to love God and love one another.
This book includes the biblical basis for a small group ministry, inspirational stories, encouragements, creative ideas, and informative steps on how best to minister to your group members.
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Calling Of Eve
$16.99Add to cartA solid biblical foundation for women in local church ministry, grounded in a celebration of women of the Bible.
In The Calling of Eve, Jacki C. King explores what God has accomplished through the unique talents and contributions of women of the Bible, drawing inspiration and lessons for all women in ministry today. From the beginning pages of Scripture to contemporary ministries across the globe, women have had a vital and active role in the story of redemption. Jacki reminds and challenges women in every season of life to uncover their distinct design, purpose, and mission for the glory of God.
Jacki has spent years in many ministry settings, serving others and pointing people to God. In this book, she highlights and celebrates the contributions, gifts, and strengths that women display as image bearers of God, and she paints a vivid picture of women surrendered to God’s calling in their lives.
You will be inspired to follow in the footsteps of the courageous women of faith that Jacki honors in this book.
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Potential And Power Of Prayer
$16.99Add to cartWhy is it a struggle to pray? Respected professor, speaker, and pastor Dr. Chuck Lawless explores the power of a praying church and how it can transform your ministry.
Through prayer, we have access to the all-powerful living God. Even so, too many of us are tempted to start our days prayerless and feeling alone. How can this be? We can’t afford to be so negligent, because whether we realize it or not we all face a high-stakes spiritual battle when we step out into our communities. In The Potential and Power of Prayer, Chuck Lawless:
*illustrates how churches need to take prayer seriously in order to grow;
*explores how Jesus and the early church depended on God through prayer;
*explains how prayer is essential to preparing for spiritual battles; and
*guides church leaders in establishing the priority of prayer and a thriving prayer ministry in their churches.
God chooses to move among Christians who humbly come to him in prayer; who depend on him for strength and guidance.
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Journey Through The Old Testament
$16.99Add to cartWith Journey through the Old Testament, you’ll gain a solid grasp of the major themes and stories of the Old Testament.
Journey through the Old Testament helps you:
*explore God’s original design for humanity;
*track the major themes of the Old Testament’s prophetic and poetic books;
*trace the story of redemption through the Old Testament books of the law, prophets, and writings;
*discover the parts of the Old Testament that foretell and foreshadow the developments that occur in the New Testament; and
*summarize the grand story of the Bible in the Old Testament in a way that people can understand and apply to their lives.
This book is a solid foundation of essential biblical knowledge of the Old Testament for your personal study of the Scriptures. Start your journey through the Old Testament today.
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Journey Through The New Testament
$16.99Add to cartWalk through the New Testament with Dr. William Cook, a respected professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
With Journey through the New Testament, you’ll gain a grasp of the major themes of each New Testament book. You’ll have at your fingertips:*Concise and comprehensive overviews of each New Testament book
*The key teachings from the life of Christ in one place
*The crucial and practical implications of each New Testament book
*A thorough guide to the teachings, outline, and structure of the New Testament, book by bookJourney through the New Testament helps you gain a complete understanding of the teachings of Jesus and how the early Christians thought and lived out their beliefs. It is a solid foundation of biblical knowledge on which you can build a deeper understanding of Scripture and God’s ultimate purposes. Start your journey into the New Testament today.
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Sharing The Gospel With Ease
$14.99Add to cartDiscover a Natural Way to Share the Love of Christ.
Think about an incredibly joyful event in your life. Perhaps you got a job you desperately wanted or you were really proud of something you made. Do you remember how you couldn’t wait to talk about it? You were willing and eager to have a conversation about it with anyone who would listen! Why doesn’t our excitement for Jesus overflow from our lives in a similar and natural way?
In this book, Thom Rainer explores what makes so many Christians hesitant to talk about the greatest news the world has ever heard. There are real obstacles, challenges, and fears, but God is bigger and stronger than these hurdles. His compassion extends to all who wander, and He wants to show them His love through the lives of His people.
With this helpful guide, you will:
*Discover why it is so difficult to share the greatest news in the world
*Identify common objections that are difficult to answer and learn how to respond to them gracefully
*Learn about the three biggest barriers to talking to your friends and neighbors about the gospel and how to bypass those obstacles
*See how God loves to work through our lives to draw others to Himself
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Post Quarantine Church
$12.99Add to cartA trustworthy and respected guide for pastors and church leadership in the post-quarantine world, providing hope and vision for the future of your congregation.
From thousands of surveys of church leaders and in-person consultations, Thom Rainer and his Church Answers team have gathered the essential wisdom you will need to face the challenges and opportunities that the quarantine crisis creates for the local church, including:
New and better ways to lead the gathered churchA wide-open door for growing the digital churchA moment to rethink the facilitiesNew strategies for church growth . . . and much more!
This book is, in effect, your personal church consultant, helping you plan and prepare for the future. In the midst of heartbreak, tragedy, and struggle due to Covid-19, here’s hope, wisdom, encouragement and vision.
This book is valuable for those looking for local church and pastor resources to enhance church leadership, grow your church, and serve digital and online church communities in the post-quarantine world.
As a former pastor and founder of Church Answers, Thom S. Rainer is intimately familiar with the ever-present demands that pastors face. He has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of the local church.
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We Want You Here
$14.99Add to cartThe message is basic but profound. We want guests to know they are welcome to the church. This book is a gift to guests to communicate that very message.
Bestselling author Thom Rainer (I Am a Church Member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church) has created a tool for churches to become more hospitable through a brief, welcoming book that introduces the ministry of the local church to guests. We Want You Here is a clear and instructive message to be given to church guests. Rainer facilitates the follow up conversation that every pastor would have, if they had the opportunity. By giving away the book to guests, they are encouraged, in a non-intrusive manner, to continue to reflect on the decision to visit their church.
Those churches who share We Want You Here will be able to tell their guests:
* We Really Want You Here
* This is Not a Place for Perfect People
* We Would Like to Get to Know You
* This is Where Families Grow Strong
* We Will Getting to Know the One Who Made Us
* Come Make a Difference with Us
* Thank You for Being Here -
Becoming A Welcoming Church
$12.99Add to cartMost church members don’t see their churches clearly.
In almost all of Thom Rainer’s consultations, church members perceive their church to be friendly. But as he surveyed guests, he found that the guests typically saw church members as unfriendly. The perception chasm existed because the members were indeed friendly . . . to one another.
The guests felt like they crashed a private party.
Bestselling author Thom Rainer (I Am a Church Member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church) has a game plan for churches to become more hospitable. In a format that is suitable for church members to read individually or study together, Rainer guides readers toward a practical framework for making a difference for those who visit their church. Churches may use Becoming a Welcoming Church to assess and audit where they are on a spectrum between welcoming and wanting. Additionally, churches can use the companion book We Want You Here to send guests home with a compelling vision for what pastors want every guest to know when they visit.
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Autopsy Of A Deceased Church
$12.99Add to cartNo one wants to see a church die. And yet, far too many churches are dying. For more than twenty-five years, Dr. Thom Rainer has helped churches grow, reverse the trends of decline, and has autopsied those that have died. From this experience, he has discovered twelve consistent themes among those churches that have died. Yet, it’s not gloom and doom because from those twelve themes, lessons on how to keep your church alive have emerged.Whether your church is vibrant or dying, whether you are a pastor or a church member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church will walk you through the radical paths necessary to keep your church alive to the glory of God and advancement of Christ’s Kingdom!
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I Am A Church Member
$12.99Add to cartBest-selling author and ministry leader Thom S. Rainer drew an exceptional response when he posted a 500-word declaration about church membership to his daily blog. “I Am a Church Member” started a conversation about the attitudes and responsibilities of church members — rather than the functional and theological issues — that previous new member primers all but ignored.
Thoughtfully expanded to book form, I Am a Church Member begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members, addressing without apology what is expected of those who join a body of believers. When a person’s attitude is consistently biblical and healthy, matters of giving, serving, and so forth will fall into place more naturally.
Six intentional chapters with study questions guide this rising discussion:
1. I Will Be a Unifying Church Member
2. I Will Not Let the Church Be About My Preferences and Desires
3. I Will Pray for My Church Leaders
4. I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members
5. I Will Be a Functioning Member
6. I Will Treasure Church Membership as a Gift