1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 97 “The Promise” (Robert J. Morgan)

May 12th, 2008

In The Promise, best-selling author Robert J. Morgan (Then Sings My Soul) reveals the remarkable power of a single Bible verse—Romans 8:28 (“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God”) that will give readers an unshakable basis for confidence and joy. Filled with real-life illustrations of triumph over tragedy, The Promise not only empowers us to deal effectively with everyday stress and strain, but offers solid assurance to anyone facing serious trouble. In his personable style, Morgan shares strong techniques for reversing misfortunes, finding purpose in painful situations, and turning discouragement into resilience.

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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 96 “Intercessory Prayer” (Dutch Sheets)

May 5th, 2008

With Intercessory Prayer, first-time author and gifted Bible teacher Dutch Sheets brings clear and startling revelation on the power of prayer and the role of intercession. With the rare grace of Lucado and Foster, Dutch unwraps the mystery of intercessory prayer, revealing our role as God’s partners in His work. Have you ever wondered if your prayers really count? Or why you never seem to get any answers? If so, then Intercessory Prayer will convince you that your prayers can, indeed, move heaven and earth.

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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 95 “Twelve Extraordinary Woman” (John MacArthur)

April 28th, 2008

Celebrated for their courage, vision, hospitality, and spiritual giftedness, it’s no wonder women were so important to God’s plan revealed in the Old and New Testaments. It wasn’t their natural qualities that made these women extraordinary but the power of the one true God whom they worshipped and served.

In Twelve Extraordinary Women, you’ll learn more than fascinating information about these women, you’ll discover-perhaps for the first time-the unmistakable chronology of God’s redemptive work in history through their lives. These women were not ancillary to His plan, they were at the very heart of it.

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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 94 “Andy Catlett” (Wendell Berry)

April 21st, 2008

Berry opens this latest installment of the Port William series with young Andy Catlett preparing to visit a place he’d been to many times before, though this would be an adventure he will take very seriously. Nine years old, Andy embarks on the trip by bus, alone for the first time. He decides it will be a rite of passage and his first step into manhood. Sometimes a handful at home, Andy was a good boy when visiting his Grandparents’ houses, and he looked forward to the little spoiling certain to come his way. A beautiful short novel, this book is a perfect introduction into the whole world of Port William and will be as well a new chapter for those already familiar with this rich unfolding story.
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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 93 “The Future Of Justification” (John Piper)

April 14th, 2008

N.T. Wright, a world-renowned New Testament scholar and bishop of Durham in the Church of England, has spent years studying the apostle Paul’s writings and has offered a “fresh perspective” on Paul’s theology. Among his conclusions are that “the discussions of justification in much of the history of the church—certainly since Augustine—got off on the wrong foot, at least in terms of understanding Paul—and they have stayed there ever since.”

Wright’s confidence that the church has gotten it wrong for 1,500 years, given his enormous influence, has set off warning bells for Christian leaders such as John Piper, a pastor and New Testament scholar. If Wright’s framework for interpreting the New Testament text and his understanding of justification find a home in the church, not only could the doctrine of justification be distorted for generations to come, but the New Testament writers’ original intent could be silenced. So Piper is sounding a crucial warning in this book, reminding all Christians to exercise great caution regarding “fresh” interpretations of the Bible and to hold fast to the biblical view of justification.

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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 92 “Simple Church” (Thom Ranier & Eric Geiger)

April 7th, 2008

The simple revolution has begun. From the design of the iPod to the uncluttered Google home page, simple ideas are changing the world.
Simple Church clearly calls for Christians to return to the simple gospel-sharing methods of Jesus. No bells or whistles required, so to speak.
Based on case studies of four hundred American churches, authors Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger prove that the process for making disciples has quite often become too complex. Simple churches are thriving, and they are doing so by taking these four ideas to heart: Clarity. Movement. Alignment. Focus.
Each idea is examined here, simply showing why it is time to simplify.

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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 91 “Twelve Ordinary Men” (John MacArthur)

March 31st, 2008

Contrary to popular belief, we do not have to be perfect to do God’s work. Look no further than the twelve disciples whose many weaknesses are forever preserved throughout the pages of the New Testament. Jesus chose ordinary men - fisherman, tax collectors, political zealots - and turned their weakness into strength, producing greatness from utter uselessness. MacArthur draws principles from Christ’s careful, hands-on training of the original twelve disciples for today’s modern disciple - you.

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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 90 “When I Don’t Desire God” (John Piper)

March 24th, 2008

What do you do when you discover that you’re not satisfied in God the way he wants you to be? Joy is more than an afterthought of the Christian life; it is the sustaining fruit of a relationship with God. With a radical passion for Christ’s glory, John Piper helps you find the joy God wants you to have.

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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 89 “The Cross And The Switchblade” (David Wilkerson, John & Elizabeth Sherrill)

March 17th, 2008

The astonishing true story of Wilkerson’s outreach to New York teens trapped by drugs and gangs. Gang-fighters! Drug addicts. Teenage runaways and prostitutes! The toughest and most hopeless kids that New York’s ghettos had to offer. Then a young preacher from the Pennsylvania hills arrived on their turf and began preaching a message of renewal, miracles, and God’s love. This is one of the century’s great true stories. Over 14 million copies in print!

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1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 88 “Culture Shift” (R. Albert Mohler Jr.)

March 10th, 2008

Culture Shift offers Christians a wide-ranging model of cultural engagement. Considering many of the most salient trends of modern life—from the war on terrorism to the revolution in sexual ethics, from the hard questions of bioethics to the glory of God in marriage, Dr. Mohler will help Christians learn to make concrete application truth to the questions of the day.
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