God has called us to a joyful and victorious life in Him. While there’s no formula that delivers the ultimate faith-filled life, He has given us ways to daily strengthen our faith. Activities like talking with Him in prayer, reading the Bible, and serving Him and others lead us one step at a time into a deeper relationship. In God at the Center: Habits for Spiritual Growth, Luis Palau outlines clear steps we can take to build the fundamentals of faith to spiritual maturity.
Contents include:
Talking with God in Prayer
Reading God’s Book
Cultivating Dependence on God
Practicing Obedience to God
Serving God and Others
Becoming God’s Ambassador
Luis Palau is the author of more than 40 books, host of three international radio programs, and head of the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association. Luis has ministered in more than 70 nations and has reached more than one billion people through television, radio, print, and live events.
It’s easy to hide behind our online facades and interact in ways that we never would face-to-face. But Jesus wants to be the God of all areas of our lives, including how we communicate in the digital realm. By adopting His mindset, we are better able to live out online some of the qualities that are close to His heart . . . truthfulness, wisdom, gentleness, and love. Being Jesus Online: Biblical Wisdom for a Wired World offers some practical insights for digital discernment.
Contents include:
What Would Jesus Tweet?
The Heart of the Matter
Be Truthful
Be Wise
Be Gentle
Be Loving
Dennis Moles is a Bible teacher and writer for Our Daily Bread Ministries. He brings nearly 20 years of experience as a pastor, chaplain, and college professor to his work with Discovery Series, questions.org, and webinars.
In a world that is marked by uncertainty and fear, faith can sometimes be overshadowed by doubt. Many are left with a faded perspective on what lies ahead. In the pages of this booklet, author Bill Crowder shines the light to reveal a hope that can only be found in Christ. Discover how you can strengthen your faith and trust God, even in the midst of challenging times.
Bill Crowder joined the Our Daily Bread Ministries staff after more than 20 years in the pastorate. Bill works closely with Mart DeHaan as vice president of teaching content. Bill is heard regularly on the Discover the Word radio program and spends much of his time in a Bible-teaching ministry for Christian leaders around the world.
Sin has a sneaky way of taking God’s good gifts and distorting them. The ideals that God intended for us are easily blurred, and we sometimes need a refresher to bring them back into focus. Gary Inrig takes us to Genesis 3 so we can be reminded of the purpose for which we were created and enjoy God’s good gifts as He intended. It’s not only best for us, but it brings Him glory as well.
Contents include:
Paradise Lost
Back to the Beginning
Sin Makes Personal Pleasure a Supreme Good
Sexuality Is a Primary Victim of Sin
No Way Back . . . But a Way Forward
Gary Inrig is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Inrig is pastor of Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Redlands, California.
If you are struggling with feelings of doubt and disappointment with God, Psalm 77 has something to say to you. The psalmist Asaph was moved from near despair to a deep confirmation of faith simply by changing his perspective. God designed prayer as an instrument to create intimacy between Him and us. When we stop focusing on ourselves and our circumstances and start focusing on God, things change. Why Doesn’t God Answer Me? takes you step-by-step through Asaph’s psalm to remember the mighty acts of God and to confirm that He is great and worthy of our trust.
Contents Include:
In Times of Doubt (77:1-12)
Through the Deep Waters (77:13-19)
The Shepherd of His People (77:20)
Dr. Ray Stedman authored many books from Spiritual Warfare to Body Life to his insightful commentary Adventuring Through the Bible. His books span the experiences of Christian life.
Discover a new way to encounter the life changing wisdom of the Bible! With our new FREE app, you can keep Discovery Series with you at all times. Not only is our original content available, but we’ve added bonus material so you can learn even more as you read through each chapter.
Death is a blunt reminder that we live in a messy world. It is unwelcome, cold, and final. But is it really final? Do we have hope beyond the grave? Yes! Our entire Christian faith is built on the belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead so that we can have hope beyond our earthly death. First Corinthians 15 gives beautiful testimony to His bodily resurrection and paves the way for our own resurrection. Ponder the life-giving and life-changing hope that can dismiss the fear of death and give assurance of the indescribable glory that is to come.
There’s often confusion on what the fruit of the Spirit is and is not. It’s not a list of instructions of how we should live; rather the fruit are qualities we exhibit when we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are set free to live a new life in Christ, no longer indulging in selfish desires but enabled to serve one another in love. Live Free encourages us to cultivate our hearts for the Spirit to produce fruit.
Contents Include:
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit in the Orchard of the Bible
Keeping in Step with the Spirit
Dr. Constantine Campbell is an ordained deacon in the Anglican Church of Australia, a New Testament scholar, professor, author, musician, and preacher. He is Associate Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, and lives in Illinois with his wife, Bronwyn, and their three children.
The wilderness of broken dreams can be a harsh place to dwell. Thank God there’s more to it than disappointment and suffering. The wilderness for Sheridan Voysey and his wife, Merryn, was infertility. He writes candidly about the sadness and identity loss they felt through this long time period as well as the examination of their hearts and trust in God to provide a new beginning. Using the Jews’ biblical wilderness journey as a comparison, Sheridan steers you through the emptiness and emotions that come with a broken dream and offers practical steps to see the good God is doing.
Sheridan Voysey is a writer, speaker, and broadcaster based in Oxford, England. Sheridan has authored several books was the host of a live talk show in Australia exploring life, faith, and culture. Sheridan speaks regularly at conferences and holds degrees in theology and communication.
Christmas is a season when activities ramp up; and while many of these things are well and good, much of our busyness simply distracts us from the real meaning of why we celebrate. The truth of Christmas plunges us into thick reality: God humbled Himself to be born as a human baby in a smelly stable. Not only did He become fully human while also fully God, He lovingly walked among us and willingly went to the cross as the sacrificial lamb to take away the sins of everyone. Now that’s something to celebrate!
Contents Include:
The Promise of Christmas
A Place for God
Mary’s Little Lamb
The Boys of Bethlehem
The Heart’s Treasure
The Mess and the Messiah
Bishop Emeritus RobertSolomon was Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000–2012. He had served previously as a medical doctor, church pastor, and principal of Trinity Theological College. He has contributed many articles to books, theological dictionaries, and journals and has authored 17 books, including The Race, The Conscience, The Enduring Word, The Virtuous Life,The Sermon of Jesus, and Apprenticed to Jesus.
So often we spend time trying to either overcome or hide our weaknesses. But what if our weaknesses are the very places God wants to display His power in our lives? “It is only in Scripture that we are encouraged to embrace our weaknesses and through them experience a power that we could never know otherwise,” writes author Dan Schaeffer. In this excerpt of The Power of Weakness, Dan Schaeffer encourages us to embrace our weaknesses with contentment and trust God’s power and strength to truly transform us into the image of Christ.
Contents Include:
Accepting Reality
Adjusting Our Perspective
Kicking a Broken ‘Can’
Recognizing God’s Power
Dan Schaeffer pastors Shoreline Community Church in Santa Barbara, California. He is an award-winning writer whose articles have appeared in Reader’s Digest and A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul. His books include In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas, When Faith and Decisions Collide, A Better Country, Restored! and The Power of Weakness.
Understanding how to balance earthly and heavenly citizenship without compromising accountability to God has been an issue for many Christians since the beginning of human government. Citizens of the Kingdom shares historical perspectives and wisdom from the Word to help you recognize what belongs to God and what He has entrusted to government. Discover how you can pray for persons in leadership, honor their authority, and respectfully disagree.
Sooner or later, grief touches us all. In 2006 it pierced Luke and Jodi Veldt with the sudden death of their 13-year-old daughter. The loss shook his faith, yet drove Luke to the Scriptures for answers. This excerpt from Written in Tears and the material from counselor Jeff Olson share comfort and wisdom for grieving hearts from Psalm 103. The honest cries and biblical wisdom found within these pages will benefit anyone who has lost a loved one.
Contents Include:
A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
Perspectives on Grief
A Hopeful Invitation
Luke Veldt is a church planting missionary in Pamplona, Spain. He and his wife, Jodi, have six children.
Jeff Olson is a licensed counselor and a regular writer for Discovery Series, Our Daily Journey and Questions.org.
Many people read the Bible, but at the same time many people struggle with understanding and applying its ideas and messages to everyday life. In the excerpt from his book Applying the Bible, Jack Kuhatschek offers a guide to reading Scripture and grasping its truths. Taking a closer look at some of the most common difficulties, he provides tools to help you overcome the barriers that get in the way of understanding God’s Word and its relevancy for you in today’s culture. Contents Include:
Introduction
Understanding the Original Situation
Finding General Principles
Applying General Principles Today
Jack Kuhatschek is executive vice-president and publisher for Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of numerous Bible study guides and the books Applying the Bible and The Superman Syndrome.
Discover a new way to encounter the life changing wisdom of the Bible! With our new FREE app, you can keep Discovery Series with you at all times. Not only is our original content available, but we’ve added bonus material so you can learn even more as you read through each chapter.
“Sharing the gospel is the most important conversation we can have with someone.” But sometimes talking with people of other faiths can be challenging. In this booklet, Ajith Fernando shares from his personal experience, offering insight from Scripture and guiding principles to help you relate more wisely and lovingly. Find out how you can tell others about Jesus, be knowledgeable and respectful of differences, and stand firm in your own beliefs.
Contents Include:
The Messenger
The Message
Ajith Fernando serves as Teaching Director of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka. Ajith is a visiting lecturer and Council President of Colombo Theological Seminary and also serves as Visiting Scholar at Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto. He has written 15 books and his books have been published in 19 different languages.
As much as we want to talk to God, sometimes it’s difficult to find words that express the emotions of our hearts. In this excerpt from his book Praying the Prayers of the Bible, author James Banks shares prayers from biblical characters to show us how we can use God’s own Word to talk to Him through every season of life. We are reminded that “He wants to bless us and draw us near with love that gives life to our souls,” and we’re encouraged to approach God just as we are with our praises and petitions.
Contents Include:
Prayers to Praise and Honor God
Prayers to Confess Sin and Humble Ourselves
Prayers about Everyday Needs
Prayers for Guidance and Direction
Prayers to Say Thank You
Dr. James Banks loves to encourage people to pray. He is the author of several popular books, blogs and magazine articles on prayer. He has been a pastor and church planter over 25 years and lives with his wife Cari in Durham, North Carolina. They have two adult children.
Discover a new way to encounter the life changing wisdom of the Bible! With our new app for tablets, you can keep Discovery Series with you at all times. Not only is our original content available, but we’ve added extra material so you can learn even more as you read through each chapter.
The Christmas scene is anything but ordinary. “What happened at the manger wasn’t designed to put me in ‘the holiday mood,’” writes Dan Schaeffer. “It was intended to shake me to the roots of my soul.” In this excerpt from his book In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas, Dan Schaeffer helps us see beyond the holiday traditions to embrace Jesus—the gift God sent into the trouble and difficulty of our lives to bring us true peace.
Contents Include:
What’s Wrong with this Picture?
When it Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas
One More Gift to Give
Dan Schaeffer is an award-winning writer who pastors Shoreline Community Church in Santa Barbara, California. His work has appeared regularly in more than thirty different Christian magazines and periodicals, in many different countries and languages.
During his many years of missionary work in India, Dr. Paul Brand developed a great appreciation for the natural world and its magnificent Creator. In this booklet, he shows how the soil under our feet can teach us many things about the soil of our hearts. Challenging us to see who we are as children of God through the beauty and wonder of His handiwork, Dr. Brand also reminds us of the responsibility God has given us to take proper care of His creation.
Dr. Paul Brand is known for his missionary work in India, his medical research, and his work as a surgeon. Dr. Brand was designated Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
“When a person means to do you harm, understanding that person’s identity, appearance, whereabouts, modus operandi, intentions, and skills are things you must know,” writes Greg Dutcher.
This excerpt from Dutcher’s book Living Free in Enemy Territory helps prepare us to battle the ultimate Enemy of all believers. We are reminded that Satan is not free to do as he pleases, that we are not battling alone, and most importantly, that Christ has already defeated him at the cross.
Greg Dutcher is senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Church in Fallston, Maryland. He and his wife, Lisa have four children.
“Grief is a journey that sooner or later we all must take,” writes counselor Tim Jackson. Sharing his personal experience and pointing us to the cross and the power of Christ’s resurrection, Jackson shows us how we can take that journey with hope. In the pages of this booklet, he walks with us through the grieving process and reminds us to “lean on our Creator and each other” for comfort.
Contents Include:
The Journey Through Loss
Grieving Well
Lament and Faith: Reassurance of Hope in Sorrow
Tim Jackson is married to his college sweetheart, Cole. They share life with their 3 adult children and a rambunctious Golden Retriever, Sheba. Tim is the producer for the HelpForMyLife.org website, writes Discover Series booklets on a variety of counseling issues and hosts webinars for Our Daily Bread Ministries.
“Wisdom, as described throughout the book of Proverbs, is about making wise decisions in the thick of life,” writes author Alice Mathews. Through a verse-by-verse examination of Proverbs 31:10-31, she shares the characteristics of wisdom. Encouraging all of us to respond to the voice of God, Mathews helps us see the value in having the proper perspective on our priorities and making choices that honor God in our daily living.
Many people find it difficult to wrap their minds around the compatibility of science and the miracles recorded in the Bible. However, science and the Bible are not in conflict. They can both be trusted to tell us truths about different things. In this booklet, author Dennis Moles presents increasing evidence to support the reliability of the Bible and its message of reconciliation and grace as he points us to Jesus—the most compelling reason to believe.
Dennis Moles is a Bible teacher and writer for Our Daily Bread Ministries. He brings nearly 20 years of experience as a pastor, chaplain, and college professor to his work with Discovery Series, questions.org, and webinars.
Some Christians struggle with finding the right words to say when facing an opportunity to share the Gospel. Herb Vander Lugt takes a closer look at the early Christian church in the book of Acts and offers a fresh perspective on effective strategies for witnessing. Gain a better understanding of friendship evangelism and discover how you can lead others to Christ.
During hardship and trouble, tough questions often arise: Where is God? How do I respond to difficulties? Is God both good and all-powerful? In the Discovery Series booklet Out of the Ashes by Bill Crowder, you’ll explore Job’s struggle with the problem of suffering. Through Job’s story, discover how you can trust God despite unanswered questions and gain a fresh perspective on the cross as God’s answer to suffering.
Contents Include:
Hard Questions, Elusive Answers
A Heart Torn in Pieces
A War on Two Fronts
A Wisdom Gained through Pain
Life Lessons
Bill Crowder joined the Our Daily Bread Ministries staff after more than 20 years in the pastorate. Bill works closely with Mart DeHaan as vice president of teaching content. Bill is heard regularly on the Discover the Word radio program and spends much of his time in a Bible-teaching ministry for Christian leaders around the world.
