The Surprising Genius of Jesus: What the Gospels Reveal about the Greatest Teacher

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Author(s): Peter Williams
Publisher: Crossway Books
Price: $2.99       (Feb 5-6)

How the Story of the Prodigal Son Illuminates Jesus’s Genius

When someone thinks of Jesus, “genius” is not likely the first word that comes to mind. But when studied in detail, Jesus’s teachings and interactions with others combined high levels of knowledge and insight, verbal skill, and simplicity—showing his genius.

In The Surprising Genius of Jesus, Peter J. Williams examines the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 to show the genius, creativity, and wisdom of Jesus’s teachings. He used simple but powerful stories to confront the Pharisees and scribes of the day, drawing on his knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures to teach his audience through complex layers and themes. Williams challenges those who question whether Jesus really was the source of the parables recorded in the Gospels, pointing readers to the truth of who Jesus is and why that matters for them today.

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Where Christ Is Present

Author(s): John Warwick Montgomery, & Gene Edward Veith
Publisher: New Reformation Publications
Price: $6.99      

Five hundred years ago, the church of Jesus Christ underwent a Reformation.
A lot happened after Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg. But the fallout was not simply the start of Protestantism. The Roman Catholic Church also recast itself in response to Luther’s call for reforms. And contrary to common belief, Martin Luther did not set out to start a new church. Rather, he was trying to reform the church that already existed by reemphasizing its essence-namely, the “good news” (the gospel) that Jesus forgives and saves sinners.
The unity of the church was broken when the pope rejected this call for reform and excommunicated Luther, starting a chain of events that did lead to the institutional fracturing of Christendom and to a plethora of alternative Christian theologies. But, as many – including conservative Catholics – now admit, the church did in fact need reforming. Today, the church – including its Protestant branches – also needs reforming. Some of the issues in contemporary Christianity are very similar to those in the late Middle Ages, though others are new. But if Luther’s theology can be blamed – however unfairly – for fragmenting Christianity, perhaps today it can help us recover the wholeness of Christianity.

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The Healer’s Touch

Author(s): Lori Copeland
Publisher: Harvest House
Price: $0.99       (Ends Mar 4)

Lori Copeland, beloved author of more than 100 books, brings a new adventure to life in her latest novel.

Lyric Bolton doesn’t ask for much—just friendship and acceptance from her rural Missouri community. But her family is regarded with suspicion and fear because of her mother’s sickness—a sickness of the mind that grows worse by the day. Lyric is resigned to a life of isolation and doesn’t see any way out…but that’s before Ian Cawley bolts into her life on a runaway stallion.

As she opens her heart to Ian, Lyric dares to imagine a different life. But what will happen when he discovers the secret she holds closest of all?

 

Paradise of God

Author(s): Larry Ollison
Publisher: Harrison House publishers
Price: $0.99       (Ends Feb 28)

Most people have a skewed vision of what heaven is or what heaven was or will be like. They tend to picture angels floating around, some having harps and some having bows and arrows but none of them actually having a life. To many people, heaven sounds like a boring place and there is little desire to go there although it’s much better than the alternative. Earth seems to be exciting with new discoveries and adventures every day. The church has portrayed heaven over the years through novels and movies and paintings as a dull place. However, the kingdom of God, the afterlife and the place where God lives, is much more exciting and glorious than anything the earth could ever produce. The colors there are beyond the natural spectrum and there are inexpressible sounds. The discoveries that can be lived in the kingdom of heaven will make the earthly lifestyle bland by comparison. In this book, you will learn the biblical truth of what heaven is really like and you will be taken step by step through what a believer will experience from the time their spirit leaves their body at a physical death to when they receive their new glorified body through the millennium and into the place that Jesus has prepared for every believer in the new heavenly Jerusalem.

Marriage, Dating and Relationships: Feb 21/25

Altared
Author(s): Claire & Eli
Publisher: WaterBrook
Price: $1.99       (Ends Feb 27)

“Altared is a must-read for young Christians hungering for a realistic, biblically rich take on love and marriage in the twenty-first century.”
—Katelyn Beaty, editor, Christianity Today magazine, Her.meneutics

Mar•riage-hap•py \mar´-ij-hap´e¯\ adj 1: Having an inordinate preoccupation with marital pursuits, sometimes at the cost of other Christian priorities, commonly seen in evangelicals. 2: A giddiness stemming from all things related to marriage.

In the frenzied pursuit of romance, Christians sometimes lose sight of the greatest commandments: to love God and to love others. Distracted by wedding bells and exuberant hopes for a happily-ever-after, Christians often forget the greater vision of Christ’s call to love.

What if God is less worked up about marriage than we are?

With honesty and insight, Claire and Eli ask us to shift our thinking away from marriage or singleness and toward love and discipleship.

Drawing from luminaries like Augustine, the Desert Fathers, and Bonhoeffer, they invite you to join their real-life exploration of love as they convincingly demonstrate why a love for God and for one’s neighbor are to be our top priorities, whether we are single or married.

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The One
Author(s): Ryan Leak, Amanda Leak, & Jodi Lipper
Publisher: WaterBrook
Price: $1.99       (Ends Feb 27)

The couple behind the viral “The Surprise Wedding” video share personal stories and practical advice about finding The One through faith.

Most people will admit that they are looking for an amazing love story. We’ve all seen those couples, the ones holding hands or whispering to each other as they stare into one another’s eyes as if they share an awesome secret. We watch them and wonder, what’s up with those two?

We never anticipated becoming one of “those couples.” When we met, we just worked on listening to God and preparing ourselves for the story he planned for us. What we learned and want to share is that no matter what your relationship status may be, this amazing story begins with you.

In this book we share more than the events happening around “The Surprise Wedding.” We share our triumphs and our mistakes, both before and after that day. You’ll learn healthy habits you can start practicing today, ones that will help you lay the groundwork for an incredible marriage later. God has something amazing in mind for you, but he can’t get you there without your help.

We absolutely believe in The One. And we believe that you’re it.

Never the Bride

Author(s): Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay
Publisher: Waterbrook
Price: $1.99       (Feb 21-27)

“What girl can’t identify with Never the Bride? This is a fabulously funny novel with deep truths embedded in its pages.” –Kristin Billerbeck, author of What a Girl Wants

“I admire writers who employ words to paint touchable pictures, likable characters, introducing us to instant friends who lead us to unexpected endings. That’s why I love Never The Bride.” –SQuire Rushnell, author of the When GOD Winks books

Eleven Bridesmaid Dresses Don’t Lie

Since she was just a little girl, Jessie Stone dreamed up hundreds of marriage proposals, doodled the romantic ideas in her journal with her treasured purple pen, and fantasized about wedding dresses and falling in love. She’s been a bridesmaid nearly a dozen times, waved numerous couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember.

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Neighborhood Initiative and the Love of God

Author(s): Lynn Cory
Publisher: NavPress
Price: $2.99      

Imagine the whole church in every community in our cities working together to bring the love of God to every neighborhood. What if each of our homes became centers for the loving ministry of Jesus? What if every one of our neighbors then began to experience the extravagant love of God? People would say, “I want to have the kind of love they have!” and Jesus would be pleased. Through the love and power of the Holy Spirit, we can and will see this in our day. Neighborhood Initiative is for those who want to join a Jesus revolution of love in our cities, neighborhoods, families, workplaces, and schools.