Gracepoint Ministries' Readings

This book by missionary and evangelist Roy Hession has been a long-standing “must read” for decades at our church.  Thankfully, the entire book is now available as a PDF document and is posted here:  The_Calvary_Road_(RoyHession).pdf

It’s only 29 pages but it’s loaded with challenges that will spark personal revival!  Some highlights include Chapter 4 “The Highway of Holiness” and Chapter 10 “Protesting Our Innocence?” (which was included in our Passion Readers).  It’s well-worth reading again and again…

[Note: This pdf was made available from http://www.christianissues.biz/pdf-bin/sanctification/thecalvaryroad.pdf ]

“A Family Affair: What would the church look like if it put we before me?”

by Joseph H. Hellerman

Christianity Today, May 2010, pp.42-46 [first two paragraphs are excerpted below; full article is available on-line for download at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=87899]

“Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community. Persons who remain connected with their brothers and sisters in the local church almost invariably grow in self-understanding. And they mature in their ability to relate in healthy ways to God and to fellow human beings. This is especially the case for those courageous Christians who stick it out through the messy process of interpersonal conflict. Long-term relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life. People who stay grow.

People who leave do not grow. We all know persons consumed with spiritual wanderlust. We never get to know them well because they cannot seem to stay put. They move from church to church, avoiding conflict or ever searching for a congregation that will better satisfy their felt needs. Like trees repeatedly transplanted from soil to soil, these spiritual nomads fail to put down roots, and they seldom experience lasting, fruitful growth in their Christian lives.”  [continue to read Dr. Hellerman's article at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=87899]

Joseph H. Hellerman is professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He is the author of When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus’ Vision for Authentic Christian Community (B&H Academic).

Decision Making in the Family of God

by Joseph H. Hellerman

Click here to download the excerpt of this chapter.

He replied to them, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, “here are My mother and My brothers! Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-35

Nick and Tina (not their real names) attended a church where I served in the late 1980’s. They came to see my on a Wednesday evening in mid-October, having just finished their weekly ministry in our children’s department. The couple had met at a church softball game a couple of months earlier. Now they wanted to get married in December. I did the math. Nick and Tina would have just four months together from acquaintance to the altar. The way that Nick and Tina wrestled with this major life decision helpfully illustrates what can happen when the church family functions as God intends it to.

From Boundless Webzine by Jonathan Dodson

For years I went to church. Religiously. I actually went to church for about 25 years. Then I stopped. I’m so glad I did. Instead of going to church, I started being the church. It’s radically changed me. They have changed me. My family has gotten bigger.

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From World Magazine by Jamie Dean

North Carolina ministry seeks to build ties between prisoners and their children

MAURY, N.C.—Along the back roads of eastern North Carolina, the 1,500 residents of Maury barely outnumber the population of the tiny town’s largest residential facility: the Maury Correctional Institution, a close-security prison holding nearly 1,000 men facing long, hard time. Just around a secluded bend, the prison’s concrete walls and barbed wire tower over the surrounding acres of green fields brimming with short, leafy tobacco.

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Talk for the Fellowship of Saint James, All Saints Orthodox Church, Chicago, 7 November 2002

by Jim Forest

Among the hottest best-sellers of the 1970s was a book that had the catchy title, I’m Okay, You’re Okay. One of its enthusiastic readers, a young priest in Boston, gave a sermon about it which was a rave review. He wished he could give everyone he knew a copy. The book’s message was simple: To love others started with loving yourself, and loving yourself meant acquiring self-esteem.

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From Boundless Webzine by Candice Watters

DEAR BOUNDLESS ANSWERS

One of my closest Christian friends introduced me to your column, and even though I’ve NEVER written to a column editor before, I thought I would give it a try.

I’m 24 years old, currently in my third year of medical school. I’ve been a Christian for most of my life, but really started to walk with God the last few years. I have a decent network of Christian friends, though I’m not currently attached to a church or bible study, due to the fact that I travel a lot for my clinical rotations. I try to go to church when I can, but I haven’t been able to plug into one church since I am on the road so much.

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