Practical Ministry

The healthy Christian life is one of continuing spiritual, emotional, and relational growth. But so many of us feel stuck or stagnated at one stage of the journey. It's not always clear to us where or why we are stuck, making it difficult to take the next step on our journey of the soul. That's where Bill and Kristi Gaultiere come in. After decades in private practice as counselors and therapists, they have developed a unique model for growing in grace.

Youth ministry is an essential part of most evangelical churches. And yet, there is a surprising lack of resources written specifically for youth workers focused on viewing all aspects of youth ministry through a gospel-focused lens. Featuring contributions from a host of experienced youth workers from a wide variety of churches, this how-to manual offers guidance related to every facet of youth ministry, from planning short-term mission trips to working with parents.

We don't have to lose the next generation to culture. In this practical guide, John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle explore questions including: What unseen undercurrents are shaping 21st-century youth culture?Why do so many kids struggle with identity? How do we talk to kids about same-sex marriage and transgenderism? How can leaders steer kids away from substance abuse and other addictions? With biblical clarity, this is the practical go-to manual to equip kids to rise above the culture.

I am no productivity guru. I am a writer, a church leader, a husband, and a father with many responsibilities and with new tasks coming at me all the time. I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in today's digital world. Whether you are a student or a professional, a work-from-home dad or a stay-at-home mom, it will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God.

As an active member in ministry, writing is usually inevitable. Perhaps you approach these opportunities with excitement - or maybe you procrastinate to avoid the task altogether, your pages remaining forever blank. No matter how you feel about writing, approaching a project can be overwhelming. Knowing what to say can be as confusing as knowing where to begin. Perhaps for you, the first step in the writing process is simply to demystify the writing process, to realize that you are capable of accomplishing your projects. If so, then Writing for Life and Ministry is for you.

A home ripped apart by one spouse leaving reverberates with a host of unanswered questions. Simple answers don't exist - heartrending complexities do. In the midst of the turmoil, reconciliation may seem out of reach. But there is still hope for those who are willing to fight for their marriages. In this transformative guide, men and women who are separated but hopeful for restoration will discover life-changing truths about God, themselves, and their marriages.

Clear, concise, and penetrating, Practical Religion contains a series of writings about the daily duties, dangers, experiences, and privileges of all who profess and call themselves true Christians. Ryle explains that a "practical religion" is not a religion of works, but rather one in which those who are saved can put their faith into practice.

In Practical Mysticism, Evelyn Underhill distills the essential (and comprehensible) steps that comprise the process of achieving mystical understanding. Though she uses the pantheon of Christian mystics as her guide, her methodology transcends any particular faith and offers a common sense approach to self-improvement and enhanced awareness.

Despite our best efforts, many of us struggle with the same sins time and again, leaving us feeling hopeless in our searches for freedom. Pastor and author Neal Lozano knows this firsthand - and he's laid out a strategy, based on his years of experience, for you to overcome Satan's influence in your life. By focusing on Jesus' work instead of on the intimidating aspects of evil spirits, Lozano will help you discover freedom from sin, understand the biblical model of deliverance, stay free from sin, and guide others to freedom.

With doctrinally sound, practical teaching, Slaying Dragons shows how the demonic realm fits into orthodox thoughts on salvation, redemption, and kingdom life. Daniel Kolenda demystifies spiritual warfare to shine light on what the enemy is doing in listeners’ lives and what they can do to slay every dragon they encounter. It also contains real-world examples of encounters with spiritual darkness, demonstrating examples of how "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5, NIV).

It is truly possible for people to walk in the divine, and Christ came to show us the way. It is by rediscovering our true identity in him that we can begin to move into the promises of God regarding the miraculous. Bill Johnson not only teaches the supernatural, he imparts it by changing the way we think.

Scripture says "be anxious for nothing," yet most of us find ourselves increasingly worried and anxious. We're even worried about our level of anxiety! Integrating both the psychological and spiritual aspects of anxiety, therapist Jean Holthaus offers a research-driven, faith-informed approach to understanding why we experience anxiety and shows us how to effectively manage it by developing three essential skills: living in the present moment, suspending judgment, and believing ourselves to be competent and equipped by God.

Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids helps children’s ministry leaders understand trauma and strengthen their ministries to serve and disciple hurting kids.

Depression - whether circumstantial and fleeting or persistent and long term - impacts most people at some point in their lives. Puritan Pastor Richard Baxter spent most of his ministry caring for depressed and discouraged souls, and his timeless counsel still speaks to us today. In this book, psychiatrist Michael S. Lundy and theologian J. I. Packer present Baxter’s writings in order to comfort, instruct, and strengthen all who struggle with depression.

Anyone who prays or has tried to pray and given up in discouragement knows praying, really praying, is not easy. Praying consistently seems almost impossible. Too often and too easily, prayer becomes a burden: one more item on an already overcrowded to-do list. Failing to pray becomes a source of guilt and stress as we must once again admit our inconstancy and procrastination to our father confessor. The purpose of this audiobook, then, is not to add to the burden, but to ease it by distilling the advice and experience of those who pray.

The School of the Seers is the how-to guide for seeing into the spirit realm. With the addition of three new chapters, including a small group study guide, this best-selling book is sure to excite listeners worldwide. As a teacher and seer himself, author Jonathan Welton raises the standard for walking in wisdom, character, and power. Carrying a revelatory forerunner anointing, he imparts fresh new understanding and kingdom perspectives for every believer.

Women: you're not alone in your marriage. You never have been, and you never will be. While it may not always feel like it, God desires for you to have a relationally healthy, emotionally engaged, and spiritually mature husband with whom you can share your days. In Loving Him Well, Gary Thomas builds on concepts from his best-selling book Sacred Marriage to reveal the inner workings of a man's heart and mind. He delves into Scriptures that help women gain biblical insight to influence their husbands.

Beatrice Bruteau was a philosopher whose vision of life was an inspiration to some of the most influential thinkers of our time. In Radical Optimism she shines new light on the deepest truth we can know about ourselves: each of us is one with God, here and now. She helps us to understand what this really means, to know the happiness it brings, and to cultivate a contemplative consciousness. This book is both enlightening and immensely practical.

For generations when Christians have engaged in spiritual warfare, most of the time they have focused on "Satan" as the main opponent. However, C. Peter Wagner has gathered together a number of ministers who teach from personal experience that the "principalities and powers" are more than just Satan - there is an entire hierarchy of demons in this world.

Over the last decade, husband and wife team Evan and Jenny Owens have helped thousands of people overcome the trials, tragedies, and traumas of their past, and in this book, they show you how you can too. With empathy and insight, Healing What's Hidden offers a practical, step-by-step process to help you acknowledge your trauma, heal your invisible wounds, and reclaim your future so you can live beyond the anxiety, depression, and shame trauma leaves behind. Others are already experiencing healing. Now it's your turn.