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.

Giving: Reciprocating God’s Grace

by Randy Alcorn

Click here to download the excerpt of this chapter.

“Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart.” John Wesley

“Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace as thunder follows lightning.” Karl Barth

The most striking characteristic of the early Christians is that they shared all they owned, liquidating their possessions to give to the needy (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37). In one verse we’re told, “Much grace was upon them all,” and in the next, “There were no needy persons among them.” Compare this description with that of Christ’s bickering disciples, jockeying for position and unwilling to wash each others’ feet (Mark 9:33-34, 10:35-41; Luke 9:46, 22:24; John 13:3-16). Radical giving demonstrates the life-changing power of God.

An Exegesis of 1 Tim 2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:33-40
A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry
by James Choung

“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
-John Maynard Keynes, responding to an accusation of inconsistency

While I was in college many years ago, I could never get myself to say it. I didn’t have the
guts to come right out and tell my ministry partners and friends that I did not believe that
women should teach men in religious settings. Whether in a dorm Bible study or from the
pulpit, I thought that a woman shouldn’t have a leadership position over any man in the
fellowship. But a position like this wouldn’t be popular with the ladies, a not-so trivial thing
for a single college male. So I kept it to myself.

To read the entire paper: Can Women Teach?

21st Century Southern Baptist Martyrs

by Erich Bridges and Jerry Rankin

Click here to download the introduction of this incredible book

From Boundless Webzine by Jonathan Dodson

For years Kerry coasted in his Christian belief. Burned out by the legalistic culture of his Christian college experience, his post-grad years were a combination of disillusionment and disengagement with church. Church attendance was infrequent. Instead of investing in spiritual things, he decided to pursue his career, start a family, and carve out a spot in the good life.

He climbed the career ladder pretty quickly. Before he knew it, he was living in a half a million dollar home in a nice neighborhood, father to two, and enjoying a new community among fellow cyclists.

What could be better?

After a while, though, his good life seemed flat. He tried a few things to jump start it, including increased church attendance, but nothing seemed to work.

One day Don², an ex-rockstar buddy turned Jesus freak, shared with Kerry how God was changing his life through community. Skeptical but interested, Kerry began to ask more questions and even invited Don’s pastor over to his daughter’s birthday party.

The more Kerry learned, the more he was intrigued. Something was different about this church. Not only did they care about one another, but also cared about their city. Kerry joined them in social service projects and even showed up at some house church meetings.

Deep down, he knew this was something he had been longing for, something much better than the so-called good life. He began asking God if he should sell his house and become a missionary. Little did he know he was already becoming a missionary. Kerry was beginning to understand the gospel in a new way.

To read the rest of the articles…

From Touchstone Magazine by Phillip E. Johnson

“My internet reading has once again led my attention toward Africa. On December 27, 2008, the London Times published a short article by Matthew Parris with the long and attention-grabbing title, “As an Atheist I Truly Believe Africa Needs God.” The even longer subtitle summarizes the bottom line: “Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa’s biggest problem—the crushing passivity of the people’s mindset.” Parris doesn’t explain why he is still an atheist, but he does a stunning job of explaining why his view of Christian missionary efforts in Africa has drastically changed in recent years.”

To read more, download the PDF

From the July/August 2009 Issue: Volume 22, Issue 6

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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Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination

“This is the most important and exciting theological work to emerge in a generation. It will have a profound effect on Christian thinking well into the next century.” – Charles Elliot Cambridge University

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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 Touchstone Magazine Webzine by Leon J. Podles on the Integration of Anger into the Virtuous Life

Any institution tends to preserve itself by avoiding conflict, whether external or internal. In addition to this universal tendency, many Christians have a false understanding of the nature and role of anger. It is seen as something negative, something that a Christian should not feel.

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From Boundless Webzine by J. Budziszewski

It was only a little past 11, and the Union was almost empty. Expecting a quiet lunch, I chose a table where I could look out the window at the Quad. No sooner had I set down my tray than a familiar face materialized in front of me. “Expecting someone, Prof?” It was Mark Manasseh.

“Not at all. Pull up a chair.”

He sat down with a plate of something I didn’t recognize.

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From Back to the Bible with Elisabeth Elliot

Elisabeth Elliot: “Although I cannot control what other people wear, especially on the outside world, it seems disrespectful to me to see ladies in church in very short skirts or skimpy, sleeveless tops. I would imagine that it could be distracting to men who are trying to keep their minds on God.”

Lisa Barry: If you’ve ever tried without success to convince a woman that men are affected by another woman’s lack of modesty, you’ll appreciate today’s program. I’ve heard from many respectable men who say that a woman who dresses provocatively is a distraction. And I believe the men who say it’s not a distraction simply prefer to enjoy it rather than shoo it away.

But how do you convince a woman of something she herself cannot feel or understand? Elisabeth Elliot offers some important thoughts on the subject of modesty, coming up next on this Friday edition of Gateway To Joy.

Elisabeth Elliot: “You are loved with an everlasting love,” that’s what the Bible says, “and underneath are the everlasting arms.” This is your friend, Elisabeth Elliot, continuing my talks today on the subject of modesty. I have had piles and piles of letters from the last time that I dared to broach the subject of modesty. I expected a lot more brickbats than I got.

Here’s a letter from a woman who says:

“I don’t know if you will be under siege because of these week’s talks, but I thought I would just say thank you for having the courage to play them. Yes, I am strongly convicted, and yes, I hang my head because of guilt, but I know the conviction is from the Holy Spirit and not you. Thank you for the reminder of what I am to be as a woman of God. Sincerely, Kim.”

To read the rest of this article…