Books offer American Baptists opportunity for unity
ABC Reads brings American Baptists together through the power of a book. Sponsored by Judson Press, ABC Reads highlights a book annually that's appropriate for reading and discussion in small group settings, as well as individually. The book provides an opportunity for learning, sharing and growing in knowledge and faith in Sunday school classes and Bible studies, as well as men's, women's and youth groups.
ABC Reads 2009
Tempted to Leave the Cross: Renewing the Call to Discipleship
(Tentado a dejar la cruz: Renovando el llamado al discuplado)
Our 2009 ABC Reads selection is Tempted to Leave the Cross: Renewing the Call to Discipleship by American Baptist pastor Ernest R. Flores. This ABC Reads title is also available in Spanish as Tentado a dejar la cruz.
In this powerful discipleship resource, Flores considers the cross of Jesus and what it represents in the Christian church today. Offering solid biblical study in a conversational style, he embraces the cross as more than a symbol of personal salvation, but rather a call to kingdom service as well. Complete with "Cross Examinations” for personal and small group reflection and study, Tempted to Leave the Cross is an ideal tool for discipleship-making in your church. It is also perfect for use as a Lenten study resource.
From the Introduction:
"It seems that many of us have gone after a Christianity based on the motto ‘What God can do for you and your situation.' We have become more American in our consumeristic obsession than we are like Jesus and his suffering servanthood. Some of my colleagues and I have identified what we refer to as ‘ victory theology,' in which the focus on God and Christ is essentially for the purpose of gaining the victory for ourselves. Healings, miracles, jobs, financial prosperity—the whole ‘health and wealth' gospel—all of it is based on the idea that God is really God only if we are victorious. And we struggle to become anything like the Jesus, who ‘laid down his life for his friends.' And we certainly fail to lead anybody else to become like him."
We hope your congregation, your small groups and your Sunday school classes will join us in reading and studying this book. A free facilitator's guide is available for download on the Judson Press site, along with several MP3 files of Rev. Flores's sermons on the topics of discipleship and commitment to the Cross.
Call 800-458-3766 to order Tempted to Leave the Cross: Renewing the Call to Discipleship or Tentado a dejar la cruz: Renovando el llamado al discuplado. Or order online at www.judsonpress.com.
Press Release
Founded in 1824, Judson Press—a ministry of National Ministries—publishes Christ-centered leadership resources for the transformation of persons, congregations and communities.
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