Exposing a 1,500-Year-Old Myth about Hell!
What happens to us after we die?
For the first 500 years after Christ, most Christians believed that God would ultimately redeem all of his creation. Hell was real, but it didn't last forever. Its purpose was to restore, not just to punish.
Then beliefs changed. For the past 1,500 years we've been told that most of the billions of people who have lived on this earth will remain separated from the love and mercy of God for all eternity. The moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, sons and daughters, relatives and friends who have not exhibited the "right kind" of faith here in this life will suffer in hell forever.
But is that really true?
The idea of hell as a place of never-ending suffering is not taught in the Bible, although most people think that it is. It's a myth that was forced on the Christian Church by a power-hungry Roman emperor, was supported by a highly respected but misinformed cleric, and has endured for centuries because it became the status quo.
Heaven's Doors exposes that myth. It explains both historically and Biblically how Jesus Christ succeeded in His mission to seek and save the lost. And it shows how the doors to heaven really are wider than you ever believed!
This short book is designed to introduce people to the evidence from Church history and the teaching of the Bible showing that God will one day restore all of His creation to the perfection He intended. Hell is real, but it is temporary in its duration and remedial in its nature. At the end of time, all those God created in His image will experience the peace and joy of being in His presence. The booklet can be read in about a half-hour, and its small size fits easily in a man's coat pocket or a woman's purse. It's a booklet designed to be given away.Excepts and comments in this booklet are taken directly from, Heaven’s Doors . . . Wider Than You Ever Believed! which was awarded the Silver Medal in Theology in the 2018 Illumination Book Awards for exemplary Christian literature.
People today desperately want to know what is true and authentic in a world increasingly characterized by cultural confusion and a loss of trust in established institutions.
Are the answers to life found in the writings of secular scientists who tell us that we're simply a product of chance - an accidental mixture of elements in one stage of development, no more important in the long range scheme of things than a rock, or a sea urchin?
Are the answers found in the philosophical musings of Eastern mystics who explain that we're a very small part of an all-pervasive life force that in the end draws us into itself so that we lose our individuality and become nothing?
Are we unique individuals created by an all-powerful Creator who has a purpose for each person? But, if so, why is there so much pain and suffering in what should be a perfect world?
Searching for Truth in Vegas, Hollywood & Bethlehemis a relatively short, easy-to-read book that addresses many of the questions thoughtful people often ask about the nature of God, the nature of life, and the validity of Biblical faith.
For example: Is there a God? What about evolution? How about Eastern mysticism? Is the Bible really God's Word? How close is the Bible of today to the original Bible? How does it differ from other great works of religious literature? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? If God is good and sovereign, why is there excessive pain and suffering in the world?
The book follows a logical progression of thought from one question to another and includes interesting stories and historical information to help people think through the issues It provides honest answers to honest questions.
What do you do when you're at the end of your rope?
For Christians, there is only one simple yet profound answer: turn to the triune God. Born out of lessons learned during one of the most spiritually challenging periods of his life, Experiencing the Trinity by pastor Joe Thorn contains 50 down-to-earth meditations on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Overflowing with scriptural truth, pastoral wisdom, and personal honesty, this book reflects on common experiences of doubt, fear, and temptation-pointing readers to the grace that God provides and the strength that he promises.
Most church members don't see their churches clearly. In almost all of Thom S. Rainer's consultations, church members perceive their church to be friendly. But as he surveyed guests, he found that the guests typically saw church members as unfriendly. The perception chasm existed because the members were indeed friendly . . . to one another. The guests felt like they crashed a private party. Bestselling author Thom Rainer (I Am a Church Member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church) has a game plan for churches to become more hospitable. In a format that is suitable for church members to read individually or study together, Rainer guides readers toward a practical framework for making a difference for those who visit their church. Churches may use Becoming a Welcoming Church to assess and audit where they are on a spectrum between welcoming and wanting. Additionally, churches can use the companion book We Want You Here to send guests home with a compelling vision for what pastors want every guest to know when they visit.
Over the last hundred-plus years the Pentecostal-Charismatic church has witnessed miraculous conversions. From the Azusa Street Revival, which began in 1906, a movement has grown to bring more people to Jesus than any other movement in history. While secularism continues to be on the rise in today's society, many areas of the world still experience church growth, thanks to Pentecostal-Charismatic Christians. But the Pentecostal-Charismatic church is also plagued with sexual immorality, financial corruption, doctrinal error, personal flakiness, spiritual gullibility, prophetic abuse, and more. In many ways the state of the church today is not too different from how it was long ago in Corinth. To make matters worse, the church hides these acts under the cloak of liberty in the Holy Spirit. Michael Brown sounds a wake-up call to the church and addresses some of the most glaring problems, from inaccurate prophetic words that obscure true ones to ministries using scripturally armed marketing techniques in order to manipulate believers into giving. Brown shows us why we must clean up house so the church can grow, flourish, and fulfill God's kingdom purposes.
Many Christians are fearful of engaging in conversations about their faith with Jewish people knowing that there are complex issues and suspicions that lie deep beneath the surface. And yet there are many points of contact, and much common ground. This short book is designed to help both Christians and whole churches understand more about the variety of Jewish people we might work with, meet or know, and to reach out to them with the good news of the gospel. Written at a level that everyone can understand, this book emphasizes the importance of forming loving, honest and open relationships as part of the way we engage with our Jewish friends.
Adventure-filled narrative untangles the intriguing web of people and events that shaped history's most powerful book. From the earliest oral traditions to ink on parchment and ultimately the printing press, this is the story behind the best-selling book of all time. Original texts were captured and passed down from generation to generation by elders and leaders, many inked by hand in extreme conditions. Christians and Jews canonized the Christian, Catholic, and Hebrew Bibles over a period of thousands of years. Devoted people dedicated their lives throughout time to put this unique book into the hands of people worldwide. Retrace the passion and intrigue behind the Bible's creation.
Exposing a 1500-year-old myth about hell!What happens to us after we die?For the first 500 years after Christ, most Christians believed that God would ultimately redeem all of his creation. Hell was real, but it had a positive purpose, and it didn't last forever.Then beliefs changed. For the past 1500 years we've been told that most of the billions of people who have lived on this earth will remain separated from the love and mercy of God for all eternity. The moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, sons and daughters, relatives and friends who have not exhibited the , right kind, of faith here in this life will suffer in hell forever. But is that really true?The idea of hell as a place of never-ending suffering is not taught in the Bible. It's a myth that was forced on the Christian church by a power-hungry Roman emperor, was supported by a highly respected but misinformed cleric, and has endured for centuries because it became the status quo.Heaven's Doors exposes that myth. It explains both historically and biblically how Jesus Christ succeeded in his mission to seek and save the lost. And it shows how the doors to heaven really are wider than you ever believed!
Now poised to reach a new readership, Good to Great in God's Eyes shows how Christians can honor God with lives of great faith and excellent work. Believers become great in God's eyes by applying the ten common characteristics of great Christians: - think great thoughts - read great books - pursue great people - dream great dreams - pray great prayers - take great risks - make great sacrifices - enjoy great moments - empower great people - develop great habits Using Scripture, personal stories, and examples from Christians who left a lasting legacy, bestselling author Chip Ingram offers practical steps for becoming great in all areas of life, in spiritual growth, family, relationships, and career. Includes a foreword by Bob Buford and helpful discussion questions to facilitate group or individual study.
A famed historian once noted that, regardless of what you think of him personally, Jesus Christ stands as the central figure in the history of Western civilization. A man violently rejected by some and passionately worshipped by others, Jesus remains as polarizing as ever. But most people still know very little about who he really was, why he was really here, or what he really claimed.
Intended as a succinct introduction to Jesus's life, words, and enduring significance, Who Is Jesus? offers non-Christians and new Christians alike a compelling portrait of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this book encourages readers to carefully consider the history-shaping life and extraordinary teachings of the greatest man who ever lived.
