Showing results by narrator "Lance Smith" in All Categories

Jesus’ disciple Thomas rightly earned the title "Doubting Thomas" by refusing to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. He told the disciples, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, I will not believe." Soon after, Jesus appeared to Thomas, shattering his unbelief. Thomas became so convinced of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that he took the gospel to India, where he is believed to have died as a martyr at the hands of Hindu priests.

Buried beneath the sentimental cards and candy hearts lies the story of a man named Valentine who defied an imperial order prohibiting marriage. The emperor, known as Claudius the Cruel, needed all strong young men to enlist in Rome’s military, so he forbade them from getting married. When Valentine was caught marrying couples in secret, he was brought before the emperor. Valentine saw an open door to share the gospel with the emperor. Did the emperor choose to place his trust in Christ?

The history of the church is filled with stories. Stories of triumph, stories of defeat, stories of joy, and stories of sorrow. In this book, Dr. Stephen J. Nichols provides snapshots of the church through the centuries. You’ll meet fascinating saints, travel to curious places, examine precious artifacts, and watch as surprising turns of events unfold. This lively and informative journey not only captures the richness of Christian history, but also reveals a record of God’s providence and faithfulness to his people.

If we want to know the truth about God, we need a sound approach to incorporating what the whole Bible teaches. In this concise introduction to systematic theology, theologian Graham A. Cole explores how we move from scripture to doctrine in order to shape what we believe, what we value, and how we live. He shows us the importance of having the right method: rooted in the word of God, consistent with church history, in the context of a broken world, dependent on divine wisdom, and ultimately aiming at pure worship.

Movements that unify millions and sustain national relevance over the course of decades are hard to come by. They’re even harder to plan and predict. But that is exactly what happened and is captured with stunning detail in this book. In Empower, Jeff Martin drills in to four key principles that can unlock a volunteer-led movement. How can you lead a movement? Empower will give you the four keys - value, simplicity, commonality, and ownership - to lead a movement of your own.

A unique middle-grade novel, The Edge of Everywhen tells the story of Piper, a 13-year-old self-proclaimed book nerd whose world has been upended after the death of her mother. She and her autistic little brother (and best friend) Phoenix cling to one another as they are forced to move 1,000 miles away from everything familiar and live with their rich, estranged aunt. Piper reaches to the books on her shelf for comfort, but it is one unique book, Novus Fabula, that offers true guidance as the omniscient narrator in the story.

In Reclaimed, author and cultural critic Andy Steiger explores the trend toward dehumanization that underlies our fraught times. People on both sides of the political aisle and from all walks of life share a deep desire for better understanding, justice, and human dignity. Yet we're uncertain how to achieve these aims. Steiger points to Jesus as the basis for rediscovering our common ground and our shared humanity.

In his book Happily Ever After?, author and former pastor Charlie Collins offers a fresh perspective on marital strife and gives listeners a road map for returning to intimacy amid brokenness and desperation. It can be overwhelming when resentment and anger begin to take hold in a marriage. Although we are prone to self-destructive behaviors, there is still hope, and Happily Ever After? draws the listener toward God's love, the cord that thrums beneath all relationships in our lives.

A complex and fascinating character, Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, is best remembered as the Father of Orthodoxy, upholding the doctrine of the Trinity against the Arian heresy. In the newest addition to the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series, author Simonetta Carr introduces children to the life and times of this important church father who tirelessly defended the Nicene Creed, which many of us today recite as a confession of our faith.

Outside of the people in the Bible, Augustine of Hippo is the most influential person in church history. Yet how many people know his story? In this book, Simonetta Carr introduces young listeners to the life and ministry of Augustine. Listeners will come to know Augustine's personal struggles and the high value he came to place on the Bible and truth. Listeners will also see the difficult days in which Augustine lived, learning about his disputes with false teachers and the turbulent times during the fall of the Roman Empire.

Simonetta Carr’s newest children’s biography introduces us to a father of the Chinese evangelical church, Pastor Wang Mingdao. Mingdao is remembered for standing firm for the true gospel, even though it cost him his earthly freedom. Even after a moment of weakness during persecution, Mingdao found restoration in Christ and kept the faith through twenty-three years of imprisonment. His courage and strength provide a modern example of how Christians can trust the Lord and remain faithful in times of hardship and persecution.

Born in Florence, Italy, in 1499, Peter Martyr Vermigli decided that he wanted to teach God's Word when he grew up. After many years of study, he became a well-respected leader in the Roman Catholic Church, yet he questioned the church's teachings because he believed they were contrary to the Bible. Eventually forced to flee Italy and the Roman Church, Vermigli joined the Reformers north of the Alps and devoted the rest of his life to teaching, preaching, and writing about the great truths of the Protestant Reformation.

Byang Kato grew up in Nigeria in a family devoted to juju, a religion of magic and superstition. Although from a young age he planned to become a juju priest, his encounter with missionaries and the gospel changed that. In this book, Simonetta Carr tells how the eager young Byang devoted himself to learning about Jesus and sharing Him with others.

B. B. Warfield lived at a time when many people—even those who considered themselves Christians—were questioning the authority of God's Word. For centuries most people in Europe and North America had taken for granted that the Bible was the word of God, but in Warfield's lifetime they were wondering whether it could still be trusted. Warfield was confident that the Bible could be trusted, and as a professor of theology at Princeton Seminary, he devoted his life to teaching and writing about its authority and other important issues of theology.

Irenaeus is remembered for his work in helping the church to preserve the faith handed on by the apostles and to defend it when it was attacked. In this simply written book, Simonetta Carr shows young listeners the difficulties the early church faced and how Irenaeus taught Christians to discern truth from error by listening to the Bible. To Christians, the lessons Irenaeus taught are as important today as they were in his time.