Moral Discernment in the Christian Life PDF Download

Author: James M. Gustafson
Publisher: Presbyterian Publishing Corp
ISBN: 0664230709
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 285

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Book Description
James M. Gustafson has been a leading and formative figure in the field of Christian ethics over the past fifty years. His many contributions to theological ethics have helped to define and shape ethical thinking by Christians who reflect on great moral issues. Gustafson's work must be dealt with by all students in this discipline, and his perceptive insights have given clarity and guidance to the process of moral discernment. The essays collected here are ones that have had a significant impact on discussions and debates over recent decades. The Library of Theological Ethics series focuses on what it means to think theologically and ethically. It presents a selection of important and otherwise unavailable texts in easily accessible form. Volumes in this series will enable sustained dialogue with predecessors though reflection on classic works in the field.

Author: Bruce C. Birch
Publisher: Fortress Press
ISBN: 1451438540
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 318

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Book Description
Earth is changing in ways it hasn't for hundreds of thousands of years. At the same time, Christianity is breaking away from its millennium-long geographical and cultural center in the Euro-West. Its growth is in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, primarily in Pentecostal, evangelical, and independent churches. These dramatically changed planetary and ecclesial landscapes have led many to conclude that we need a new way of thinking about our collective existence: who are we and what is the nature of our responsibility in this deeply altered world? To address that question, biblical scholars Bruce C. Birch and Jacqueline E. Lapsley and Christian ethicists Larry L. Rasmussen and Cynthia Moe-Lobeda carry on "a new conversation" that engages how Christians are to understand the authority and use of Scripture, the basic elements of any full-bodied Christian ethic attuned to our circumstances, and the nature of our responsibility to our planetary neighbors and creation itself.

Author: Timothy F. Sedgwick
Publisher: Church Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 159627204X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 175

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Book Description
“A book to enjoy and savour. . . . As a gentle and reverent depiction of whole practice of Anglican moral theology and practice, it is splendid.”—The Anglican Theological Review Written in a style accessible to non-specialists, this book provides teachers, pastors, counselors, and general readers with an ideal introduction to Christian ethics. It renews the topic of Christian ethics by showing readers that faithful moral living is achieved through the daily practices of grace and godliness. The author first explores the foundations of Christian ethics as seen by both Catholics and Protestants, and then develops a constructive view of morality as a way of life. Taking into account the central themes of Christian ethics, he shows that effective piety is built on spiritual disciplines that deepen our experience of God: prayer, worship, self-examination, simplicity, and acts of hospitality.

Author: Hak Joon Lee
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 0830843728
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 348

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Book Description
The number of ethical issues that demand a response from Christians today is almost dizzying. How can Christians navigate such matters? With an unflinching yet irenic approach, this volume invites engagement with the biggest ethical issues by drawing on real-life experiences and offering a range of responses to some of the most challenging moral questions confronting the church today.

Author: Tim Challies
Publisher: Crossway
ISBN: 1433520524
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
Spiritual discernment is good for more than just making monumental decisions according to God's will. It is an essential, day-to-day activity that allows thoughtful Christians to separate the truth of God from error and to distinguish right from wrong in all kinds of settings and situations. It is also a skill-something that any person can develop and improve, especially with the guidance in this book. Written by a leading evangelical blogger, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment is an uplifting, scripturally grounded work that explains the need for discernment, its challenges, and the steps that will cultivate it. Author Tim Challies does not do the discerning for readers; he simply shows them how to practically apply scriptural tools, principles, and wisdom so that their conclusions about everything-people, teachings, decisions, media, and organizations-will be consistent with God's Word.

Author: Hannah Anderson
Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN: 0802497365
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 205

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Book Description
Winner of the 2018 TGC Book Award for Christian Living “And God saw that it was good…” Look out over the world today, it seems a far cry from God’s original declaration. Pain, conflict, and uncertainty dominate the headlines. Our daily lives are noisy and chaotic—filled with too much information and too little wisdom. No wonder we often find it easier to retreat into safe spaces, hunker down in likeminded tribes, and just do our best to survive life. But what if God wants you to do more than simply survive? What if he wants you to thrive in this world, and be part of its redemption? What if you could rediscover the beauty and goodness God established in the beginning? By learning the lost art of discernment, you can. Discernment is more than simply avoiding bad things; discernment actually frees you to navigate the world with confidence and joy by teaching you how to recognize and choose good things. When you learn discernment and develop a taste for all that’s good, you will encounter God in remarkable new ways. Come, discover the God who not only made all things, but who will also make all things good once again.

Author: David J. Atkinson
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 083089618X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 1054

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Book Description
Encompassing a wide range of topics--from the timely (health care and business ethics) to the traditional (atonement, suffering and the kingdom of God)—this work features an easy-to-use reference system and eighteen articles that introduce readers to key themes in moral, pastoral and practical theology. Edited by David J. Atkinson and David F. Field with consulting editors Arthur Holmes and Oliver O'Donovan.

Author: Joshua A. Kaiser
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1498270115
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 212

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Book Description
How does a Christian discern the will of God? While this question lies at the heart of the Christian moral life, religious communities struggle to articulate responses that balance simple faith and rational reflection. Some characterize discernment as simple obedience to the commandments in Scripture; others portray it as an exercise of human reason and conscience. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian, pastor, and political conspirator who embodied a life of discernment amidst difficult circumstances in WWII Germany, offers a compelling theological account of how to seek and respond to God's will. By tracing Bonhoeffer's understanding of moral discernment throughout his writings, and especially in his Ethics, Joshua Kaiser demonstrates the importance of discernment for Bonhoeffer's vision of Christian ethics and explores how his view combines elements of simple faith and rational reflection. While the results of the study will be significant for those interested in Bonhoeffer, they will also be relevant to all who struggle along the path of Christian discipleship.

Author: Sam Storms
Publisher: Zondervan
ISBN: 0310533856
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
The Bible teaches us that we are to be filled with God's Spirit and that God's presence and grace is manifested among his people as they serve, love, and minister to one another. Yet some of the gifts that God offers to his people aren't commonly seen in many churches today. Gifts of prophecy, healing, tongues, and other supernatural gifts of God seem to be absent, and many Christians are unsure how to cultivate an atmosphere where God's Spirit can work while remaining committed to the foundational truth of God's Word. How can Christians pursue and implement the miraculous gifts of the Spirit without falling into fanatical excess and splitting the church in the process? In Practicing the Power, pastor and author Sam Storms offers practical steps to understanding and exercising spiritual gifts in a way that remains grounded in the word and centered in the gospel. With examples drawn from his forty years of ministry as a pastor and teachers, Storms offers a guidebook that can help pastors, elders, and church members understand what changes are needed to see God move in supernatural power and to guard against excess and abuse of the spiritual gifts. If you long to see God's Spirit move in your church and life, and aren't sure why that isn't happening or where to begin, this book is for you.

Author: Andrew J. B. Cameron
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
ISBN: 9781498266697
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Description: ""Finding our best humanity in Jesus Christ"" is the key theme of Andrew Cameron's fresh exploration, in which he seeks to understand ethics as springing from Jesus, and to show how identifying with Jesus Christ brings order and clarity to human life. ""In a world where everyone is an expert on right and wrong, this book tries to show how Jesus unifies the best of what you hear. He joins up messy lives."" Cameron's accessible, coherent, and innovative analysis is divided into seven parts. Each part contains several self-contained chapters that address some specific aspect of Christian thinking about ethics and life, and each chapter is cross-referenced to other key chapters. The chapters may be read in sequence, or dipped into in any order. Part 1 considers some common ways of thinking about ethics (e.g., rules, rights, values, and results). Part 2 considers some arenas we are unaware of, but that have a huge impact on how we live. Part 3 shows how Jesus Christ becomes a better main category than ethics for determining who we are and what we do. Part 4 builds a ""unified field,"" shaped in response to Jesus Christ, by which we can orient ourselves to whatever is around us. Part 5 examines some means by which we approach the daily details of life within this overall orientation. Part 6 looks at some aspects of our life-package, or ""vocation,"" to see how they are located within the ""unified field."" Part 7 visits some areas of discussion that cause great disagreement between Christians and others, and tries to show why. Cameron offers a stimulating reappraisal of our cluttered, tumultuous lives and encourages us to see life through a different lens. Endorsements: 'Books about Christian ethics can often seem abstract, dry, and remote from the complexities of our lived lives. This one brings ethics down to earth and yet succeeds in raising our sights with an inspiring vision of faithfulness to Christ in all aspects of our lives. It is clear, engaging, and user-friendly, yet infused throughout with a deep biblical wisdom. It covers an enormous amount of ground, yet allows the reader to enter the conversation anywhere they wish. It is an admirable achievement and will prove useful to a wide variety of audiences.' Jonathan Chaplin, Director, The Kirby Laing Institute of Christian Ethics, Cambridge 'Few books are harder to write or more important than a good introduction to Christian ethics. To be successful such an introduction must always remain clear and accessible while undertaking the daunting task of calling into question commonly held understandings of theology, biblical studies, and pastoral concern. Cameron's Joined-Up Life succeeds admirably at this task. His account of Christian ethics exudes the warmth of the gospel on every page and yields genuinely fresh insights into a host of common but tired ethical discussions. I heartily recommend it.' Brian R. Brock, Lecturer in Moral and Practical Theology, Department of Divinity and Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen"