A healthy deacon body is critical to the overall health of the church. When deacons serve biblically, they advance the cause of Christ; when they do not, they hinder it. A Deacon On Purpose outlines four essential commitments every deacon must make to serve Jesus's church well, in concert with biblical teaching. 1) Lead by Example. The deacon is the lead servant in the local church. He should strategically leverage relational influence to model faithful Christian living and service in the body of Christ. 2) Serve the People. A deacon who is above the people is below the office. The primary function of the office is to serve Christ's people with an open heart and open hands. 3) Support the Pastor and Staff. Deacons are an extension of the pastor's long arm of ministry. The two offices must work in concert with one another if either is to be effective. 4) Protect the Peace. Other than the gospel itself, unity is the most precious thing a church can possess. Deacons must cultivate and guard peace with careful intentionality. These four purposes are primarily derived from Acts 6:1-7, a passage widely understood to have laid the foundation for the office of deacon in the local New Testament church. The four purposes may take different forms in different contexts, but contextualized application of each is vitally important to the overall health of the local church. Some deacon training resources major on the minors, and their attention to detail and concentrated practicality is helpful. But the four purposes in this resource are clear and simple, easily translatable into the deacon body of any church, regardless of size or culture. Discussion questions and reflection points at the end of each chapter are aimed at cultivating an environment conducive to self-assessed, self-driven, contextualized application. Because no two churches and no two communities are the the same, A Deacon On Purpose delivers basic biblical essentials with clarity while allowing deacons to be experts in their own contexts when it comes to application of these four overarching biblical purposes. With a writing style that directly addresses the reader, the book represents a healthy blend of biblical foundation, practical application, and personal illustration. Biblical texts are given first priority to the convictional positions taken by the author. Then those biblical truths are worked out in practical ways, always deferring to the reader as the resident expert in his own ministry context. Personal stories and illustrations contribute to the flow and relatability of the chapters. Wolfe's heart for the local church is evident on every page, and his desire for deacons to thrive in their biblical office is obvious. When churches recapture the biblical design for the office of deacon, the Holy Spirit will work with refreshing power in and through the congregation. Christ's people will have contextualized models of everyday Christian living. The church will begin to see more acts of selfless servitude as the people follow the example of their official servant leaders. The membership will feel more connected and more loved than ever before. Pastors and church staff will become more efficient in their time management and more encouraged in their calling. Conflict will be turned into opportunity as deacons carefully, biblically and graciously protect the peace and redirect problems toward healing and growth. That's what God did in the Jerusalem church in Acts 6:1-7, and it is what He has done in countless churches since. When deacons lead well, serve well, love well, and relate well, churches thrive. If you are looking for a resource to help cultivate this biblical model and stimulate creative, contextual application in your church, look no further than Wolfe's A Deacon On Purpose.

How can I pick the right job?

Actually, you don't need to choose a job that's perfect for you. But you do need to be productive in ways that honor God in your work life.

Here's a better question: As a believer, how can I determine what I am supposed to do, and then do it well? The doctrine of calling, or vocation, will lead you to the answer.

Finding My Vocation will help you do three things:

Ponder-learn what it means to have a calling and what Scripture teaches about work.Prepare-determine the skills and character traits you'll need and learn to sort through vocational options and be faithful in your other callings.Practice-apply biblical disciplines to succeed at work and relate work to the rest of your life as a Christian.

God placed us in his world to work for his glory. You might not know exactly what he has planned for you, but you must-and can-be faithful where he calls you.

We were created to work, and our work provides unique meaning and purpose in our lives. Yet today we are living in a crisis of apathy and ignorance regarding work's theological and existential nature.

There is no shortage of books pleading with people to work less, to find balance, to think less of career and more of the things that bring them happiness. Likewise, there is no shortage of books making the case that work matters a great deal--that good things come from fruitful labor. This book belongs in neither of those categories.

In Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, David Bahnsen makes the case that our understanding of work and its role in our lives is deeply flawed--we are unmoored from what he calls created purpose. He argues that the time has come to stop tip-toeing around the issues that matter, that separating one's identity from what they do is demonstrably false, and that this era of alienation is for many a direct result of a low view of work. It is in work--effort, service, striving--of every kind that we discover our meaning and purpose; a significant and successful life is one rooted in full-time productivity and cultivation of God's created world.

This book is not your normal defense of work book. Whether you are a leader, a follower, a boss, an employee, in a white collar or blue collar job, highly paid or just getting by, this book is for you. A life of meaning is right under your nose, and with it the joy and peace of a life well-lived.

David Bahnsen is a theologically grounded, vocationally minded, and Biblically focused man with a vision to make work a gift to the world. In this book, he does just that. Combining thoughtful cultural analysis, conservative economic theory, and practical application for how to live these ideas out in the real world, I am grateful for the keen insights he lays out here. This book is a great combination of ideas and application that I think will serve many well. --Jon Tyson, Author, Pastor, Church of the City NYC

Far too many of us believe that we need to work in order to be able to live, and that's it. We need to eat, and so we work. David Bahnsen's new book leans heavily in the opposite direction, meaning that God gave us the gift of life so that we might have the grace and privilege of working. Highly recommended. --Pastor Douglas Wilson, Christ Church

The world of work is changing rapidly. As a Christian trying to discern the right career path, you might perceive the marketplace as a bewildering and anxiety-provoking place. You might even worry you'll have to sacrifice your values to have a successful career. How can you hope to find work that is informed by faith and that serves God's will? Redeeming Work was written to answer just this question.
The author, Bryan Dik, PhD, is one of the leading psychologists in the world who specializes in vocation. A professor, entrepreneur, and follower of Christ, Dik wrote this book as a labor of love after devoting his career to research and development of practical strategies for helping others find purposeful work. His message: there are abundant opportunities for Christians to forge careers that answer God's calling for their lives. In Redeeming Work, he shares the tools you need to find these opportunities and pursue them successfully.
Your purchase of Redeeming Work comes with a special bonus: free access to an evidence-based online career assessment system called PathwayU. By taking this assessment, you'll learn about what makes you unique, including what you enjoy (interests), what matters to you (values), your general tendencies (personality), and what you most need from an organization (workplace preferences). Then, you'll be able to explore career paths (and current job openings) that fit the pattern of gifts God has given you.

Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer, leaders of the online community Her True Worth, issue a liberating call to stop waiting for permission to pursue your God-given purpose and to step into your calling today with what you already have in hand.

Are you eager to walk in the calling and purpose God has for your life but are feeling uncertain? Maybe you're not sure if you're educated enough, or if it's the right time, or if you even have the authority to take a step forward. Perhaps you're at a standstill and are holding out for ideal conditions, or even an invitation, before you act.

In Ready As You Are, Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer say it's time to stop waiting to live on mission. God wants to use you now, right where you are, with the tools you already have. In this book, they'll help you . . .

• Discover that obedience is rarely about feeling prepared or confident but about doing scary things scared
• Understand the difference between your macro purpose and your micro purpose
• Explore four biblical ways to combat your natural trauma responses when the Enemy tries to sidetrack you
• Recognize what you already have in your hand and what God can do when you offer that up to Him

God wants yielded vessels, not perfect ones with the just-right set of qualifications. If you desire to live a life of abundance and mission, Ready As You Are will help you walk forward in surrender and make much of your little. God will fill in the gaps, as you choose to believe that He is who He says He is and He does what He says He'll do.

THIRTY-ONE SPECIFIC LESSONS FROM DAVID'S MIGHTY MEN ARE READY TO HELP THE MEN OF TODAY NAVIGATE THE DECISIONS, PURPOSE, AND DIRECTION FOR THEIR LIVES AND CIRCUMSTANCES.

As a man living in the twenty-first century, how can you lead with love, live on purpose, trust God with abandon, and demonstrate a visionary spirit going forward? 31 Leadership Lessons from David's Mighty Men answers these questions and more -- to help men become more loving husbands, more engaged fathers, and more godly men. Each chapter is formatted to give five specific ways to apply that particular lesson in practical ways to your life, helping you to become the man God designed you to be!

A guide to demystifying God's will for your life and following it with great joy.

Do you feel paralyzed by major life decisions because you're afraid of missing God's plan for your life? Do you wonder how God's will works in tandem with your choices, experiences, and desires?

In this timeless guidebook, pastor and Bible teacher Costi Hinn offers readers an expansive map of what Scripture says about God's will. As you read, you'll learn to overcome common decision-making cripplers, distinguish God's voice from your own, and experience peace, joy, and confidence with each life choice, big or small.

Whatever life stage you're in, Costi Hinn will come alongside and help you:

• Escape the chronic stress of uncovering God's perfect will
• Find peace in God's providence as you make tough decisions
• Discover freedom in Christ during hardship and suffering
• Learn what Scripture says about God's purpose for you

Whether you're praying through a specific decision or simply curious about how God's providence works, Walking in God's Will is the book for you.

Jesus could have been an earthly king; He could have been a scholar or a pharisee. Further, He could have been a conqueror, a general, or a warrior, but our King chose to spend his three and a half years with 12 extremely young men. Jesus chose to do the work of a teacher: a rabbi. He chose to be what no man would expect the Messiah to be, choosing a position that, today, wouldn't get you a reserved space in the church's parking lot. In many cases you wouldn't get recognition or a vacation, and in some churches, not even a paycheck. Historically and biblically, author Matthew Arrowood proposes that Jesus was not the leader of a group of seasoned men or elders as the arts, movies, and some books might suggest. This book invites the reader to consider that Jesus was the mentor of a group of teens: in other words, Jesus was a youth leader.

Erica Young Reitz helps college seniors and recent graduates navigate the complex transition to postcollege life. Drawing on best practices and research on senior preparedness, this practical guide addresses the top issues graduates face and is now updated to address the realities facing Gen Z in the 2020s.

Every church needs people to take the lead in serving the practical needs of the congregation. Robert H. Thune is intentional about training deacons by grounding them in the gospel of grace and giving them the tools for spiritual formation. Gospel Training for Deacons is an eight-lesson workbook to provide deacons with a biblical foundation for their service in the church of Jesus Christ.

Taking a biblical and practical approach to training deacons, this resource will shape future leaders at the heart level for their calling to serve the church. Thune helps churches develop deacons who know their own heart and how the good news of the gospel applies to it and cultivate a sense of gospel fluency so that they can live the gospel out in community. Whether used in one-on-one discipleship or in a small group setting, this study will give deacons the biblical foundation for their service in the church of Jesus Christ to faithfully serve.

How can we pursue our callings while managing our risk for burnout? Communication and workplace expert Arianna Molloy explores the nature of a healthy calling and the surprising key to unlocking a more sustainable approach, identifying essential practices and disciplines to transform your work, relationships, and life.

Do you feel like you're on the sidelines in God's grand design? Like there's a role waiting for you, but you just can't quite grasp it? Many of us long to make a meaningful impact with our lives, You Are Called shares how.

In You Are Called, John Bevere relies on a careful exploration of Scripture and uses powerful stories to help you think differently about your calling and why it's so important to God. You'll unlock the secrets to living with purpose and passion! Inside you'll discover. . .

• You are called by God as much as anyone is.
• God's grace empowers you for a destiny in life that's beyond your natural ability.
• Embrace your unique giftings and learn to operate in them for true effectiveness.
• Your calling is greater than your natural ability. The more impossible your challenges, the more God's grace will be manifested.
• The world needs what you have: your God-given gifts.

Carefully and biblically, this book defines and portrays gifts, calling, and purpose, and how all these come together, by God's grace and guidance, to lead us faithfully on our life's unique calling. Quite surprisingly--and liberatingly--for many, John probes the teaching of Jesus to show us that faithfulness to our calling and purpose requires that we multiply our giftedness. This concept is clearly taught in a way that motivates readers to move beyond being a mere spectator in God's kingdom.

You Are Called is a spiritual enrichment guide expanding on Bevere's message in X: Multiply Your God Given Potential. The book's content is filled with in-text interactive questions for personal reflection, self-evaluation, and strong personal engagement with what the Bible says about our gifts, our calling, our purpose, and our rewards.

Find your role, live your calling, make your mark! You Are Called empowers you to break free from inaction, aimlessness or wrong priorities--and to step into your true purpose with confidence.

Without the children, there would be no Home, so our story is their story. Having grown up in a good Christian home and having taught for several years in Christian schools, Sally Sanders longed to enter the missions field and teach in Mexico. An unexpected opportunity came up, instead, in Costa Rica, and even though she went with uncertainty in her heart, she would soon discover that God knows where He can use His children best and she would end up exactly where she needed to be. It was in Costa Rica when she first saw children living in terrible conditions on the verge of starving to death. It was in Costa Rica when she prayed for the opportunity to provide a home for neglected and/or abandoned children. It was in Costa Rica when she was able to take in a few children into her own home and provide for them. And it was in Costa Rica when she was finally given the opportunity to open a large home where children could live and learn. Sowing Priceless Seeds: Treasured Joys and TEARS of the LIGHTHOUSE is the incredible true story of Sally's missionary work spanning more than thirty-five years of living and working daily with over ninety children in the Lighthouse Children's Home in Costa Rica. This vivid collection of extraordinary experiences, both funny and sad, share the stories of not just Sally, but also of each individual child, their strengths, weaknesses, little quirks, struggles, and victories, and the way God worked in lives through them. These treasured stories show first-hand how sowing the priceless seed of the Word of God can change lives, regardless of where one comes from. Let them inspire anyone to give their lives to Christ and allow Him to use them for His glory.

Have you ever wondered who God had in mind before you came to be? Dominic Done examines seven gifts that, when practiced through the help of the Holy Spirit, will restore you, cause you to flourish, and empower you to come alive to the story you were made for.

How is the health of your soul? Is the deepest part of you flourishing--or is it languishing and gasping for air? Life lately has been filled with exhausting challenges: personal loss, political division, economic turmoil, faith deconstruction, and isolation. And our soul feels it.

Yet in the face of uncertainty, the Bible assures us we can thrive inwardly. Jesus promised his followers the abundant life. But how do we find it? How can we flourish in difficult times?

In Your Longing Has a Name, author Dominic Done casts a beautiful vision of hope, revealing seven gifts God has provided for the health of the soul. He weaves together

• A unique approach to understanding our purpose
• Fresh language designed for current times of crisis and spiritual uncertainty
• Soulful theology that focuses on our identity in Christ rather than rules-based legalism
• Deeply moving personal stories, biblical insights, and relatable discussions on the human ache for meaning
• Examples from history, literature, art, and culture

Your Longing Has a Name paints a picture of hope during a time of crisis and confusion and helps us find ways for our soul to come alive.

Todos venimos al mundo con cierto vacío en nuestra vida que nos impulsa a buscar el significado que todos buscamos de diferentes formas. El hombre es de «hacer por naturaleza y encuentra su identidad en lo que hace.

«Hacer se ha convertido en la adicción de nuestra generación. Desafortunadamente un énfasis excesivo en el hacer ha llevado a muchas personas a no cultivar una vida interior que les ayude a sostener la vida exterior. Esto explica los muchos fracasos que constantemente vemos en el día a día. Cuando la vida interior de la persona no está preparada, su carácter no tiene la madurez o la fuerza para sostenerla a largo plazo.

En este libro el pastor Nuñez, nos lleva a la Escritura y a experimentar la importancia de cultivar la fundación de nuestras vidas, para que podamos «ser lo que necesitamos ser para hacer lo que necesitamos hacer .

Servants for His Glory

Being is greater than doing.

We all come into the world with a certain emptiness in our lives--an emptiness that leads to a search for meaning. And the world tells us that search for meaning can be solved by doing. Unfortunately, an overemphasis on doing has led many people away from cultivating an interior life that allows them to sustain their exterior life.

This explains the many failures we continuously see in day-to-day life. When a person's inner life--who he or she is--is not prepared, that person's character does not have the maturity or the strength to sustain them in the long run.

In this book, Miguel Núñez points us to Scripture and experience to show us how being is more important than doing. He teaches us how to cultivate the foundations of our lives, so that we can be what we need to be, in order to do what we need to do.

Empowering Singles for Ministry Impact

Marriage is a good gift from God and should be esteemed, but is it the best indicator of a man or woman's fitness for kingdom service? Despite their dedication and immense potential, single Christians often find themselves overlooked and underutilized in ministry leadership roles.

In Single-Minded Service, Lewie Clark draws on biblical insights and historical examples, revealing the essential roles that singles have played--and can still play--in advancing the kingdom of God. He argues that in certain situations, singleness can enhance ministry effectiveness. Clark doesn't just critique the current state; he offers a clear, actionable vision for how the church can empower singles to take their rightful place in leadership, following in the footsteps of single leaders like Paul and Barnabas. Whether you are single or married, discover how embracing the gifts and callings of singles can lead to a more effective ministry.

Somewhere along the line, every CEO, celebrity, professional athlete, and government leader realized they had something to help them pursue their dreams. It's something that the rest of us may think we don't have, but we do. All of us have God-given potential!

Potential is within the grasp of everyone, says author Troy Gramling, because everyone has a dream deep within them. They just need a coach and an example at times to point the way and encourage them to pursue their dream.

Using examples from the life of Moses, Potential: The Uncontainable Power of God Within You takes you on a journey to discover your own promised land. You will learn:

- What Moses knew that you need to know

- How to go from the parking lot to the platform

- Who you are and the greatness within you

- How much you have in common with a leader who lived 4,000 years ago

- The dream you were afraid to pursue but were created to experience

Potential will help you discover the masterpiece you were created to be.

Don't Leave Too Soon, Don't Stay Too Long

Staying isn't always good and leaving isn't always bad. Both require grit and grace. Cross-cultural ministry presents us with many difficulties like transitions, loneliness, messy relationships, and the desire to escape. The lies we believe tempt us to leave our work too soon. But nothing tests our resolve to stay like seeing others go.Grit to Stay Grace to Go normalizes the challenges of ministry through honest and humorous stories from the authors' own lives as well as testimonies from many other workers. The point is to help cross-cultural workers not just to stay, but to stay well, by countering lies with truth. This workbook provides thoughtful reflection questions, practical action steps, and suggested prayers. It encourages stayers to process their grief, guilt, and relief when saying goodbye to goers. In this way, they can move forward with forgiveness and humility and truly bless the departing ones. Those considering leaving will find poignant questions and spiritual practices to help them make an intentional, not reactive, decision.Are you considering leaving the field? Or do you know someone who is? Work through this book by yourself or with others. You will gain wisdom to help workers develop grit and grace to stay or go.

A fresh telling of the story of R. G. LeTourneau, the engineering genius who designed and built the giant earth-moving machines that helped win WW II and built the highway infrastructure of America--and founded an engineering school that today is the premier Christian polytechnic university in the world. He became the best-known Christian Businessman in the 20th Century and gave away 90 percent of his wealth.

Those who knew Robert Gilmore LeTourneau as a young boy were justifiably concerned about his future. The likelihood that a headstrong misfit and eighth-grade dropout could become a prolific inventor, renowned business leader, generous philanthropist and university founder would have seemed, understandably, preposterous.

But not to God.

God delights to redeem our shortcomings and empower the most unlikely individuals to accomplish exceedingly more than they can imagine, rousing them to fulfill their God-given calling and bring Him glory.

That is what God did for R. G. LeTourneau.

This distinctive book presents the inspiring story of LeTourneau's God-empowered life, embraces his enduring legacy, and celebrates the innovative university he founded.