Audiobooks by Don Reed

Within our hearts is a longing--a profound cry of the soul for something our theologies can only point us to, never replace. Intimacy with God. Something that has no human or earthly substitute. Yet, if we pause to listen, we will discover how often God speaks to us through human and earthly means. He stands at the windows of the easily overlooked and the unlikely, tapping at the pane. He beckons us to places of encounter where we learn how well he understands the language of our hearts. At unexpected windows of the soul, we hear the voice of God. Windows of the Soul is a rare book, resounding with the cry for communion that is both ours and God's. With passion, honesty, and beauty, Ken Gire calls us to a fresh sensitivity to God's voice speaking through the unexpected parables that surround us: a child's need for significance . . . the misunderstood sadness of a van Gogh masterpiece . . . the eloquence of sunlight dancing on water . . . Gire points to a world infused with the voice of the One who can transform our backyard shrubs into burning bushes lit by his presence. His voice penetrates the raw material of our daily lives, speaking through Scripture and prayer, a painting or a poem, the remark of a friend or a night sky filled with stars. Windows of the Soul will open your eyes to a fresh way of seeing, hearing, and enjoying the presence of God in your life.

Don Reed, Ken Gire (Author), Don Reed, Ken Gire, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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Understanding the Koran

What You Should Know about Islam's Holy Book How is it like the Bible? How is it different? Why is it important? Muslims believe the Koran exists as a literal book in heaven and was dictated to the prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. It is only the length of the New Testament, yet a fifth of the world claims it is the complete revelation of God. To most Americans, though, the Koran remains a mystery. Did you know that the Koran teaches the virgin birth and miracle-filled, prophetic ministry of Jesus? Claims to fully embrace his teachings? Reveres Abraham, Moses, Jonah, and other biblical prophets? Find out how the Koran resembles the Bible---and the drastic ways in which it differs. Understanding the Koran gives you a fascinating essential grasp of Islam's holy book: where it came from, what it teaches, how Muslims view it, and how the Allah of the Koran compares with the God of the Bible. Cherished as the final, perfect revelation of God's will by 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide, the Koran has become a part of American life. Today, those who read and memorize it may work in your town, shop where you shop, or send their children to the same school your kids attend. What do you know about the holy book that shapes the lives and eternal destinies of your neighbors and a fifth of the world's population? While some similarities exist between the Koran and the Bible, the differences are striking. Written by a pastor who was born to a Muslim father and raised in Saudi Arabia, Understanding the Koran gives you a fascinating, easy-to-understand overview that will show you: *Why the background behind the Koran is important *How the Koran came into existence *A summary of the main teachings of the Koran, including what it says about Jesus and the crucifixion *Similarities and differences between Muslim and Christian views of God *What the Koran teaches about Jihad and holy war *What the Koran teaches about heaven and hell More than furnishing you with an essential grasp of Islam's holy book, Understanding the Koran points you to the one thing that can draw your Muslim friends to Jesus---his love, demonstrated to them through you. Discussion questions enable you to use this book in group studies

Don Reed, Mateen Elass (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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The Will of God as a Way of Life

Practical help for understanding and following God's will for your life 'God has a plan for our lives,' but what does that mean in practical terms? How do we know God's will for important life decisions, like who to marry, what job to take, what church to join? How can we be free if God has a perfect plan for us? Does suffering mean we are off track? How exactly does God speak? Author Jerry Sittser explores these questions and offers a biblically based approach that is truly liberating. No matter what decisions we've already made, he points out that it is still possible to live out God's perfect will---even if we think we've married the wrong person, chosen the wrong career, or landed in some kind of serious trouble. This new edition includes study questions designed to help individuals or groups who are faced with decisions---large or small.

Don Reed, Jerry L. Sittser, Jerry Sittser (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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The Unexpected Journey

Following Jesus is a journey none of the people in this book ever expected to take. Why did they? What difference did it make? The book you're holding is dangerous. If you read it, you'll see that God is still active in saving even the most unexpected people: An atheist woman who viewed Christians as 'idiots.' A married couple high in the leadership ranks of the Mormon church. An African-American man who became a Black Muslim out of hatred for white Christians. You'll be amazed, moved, and encouraged as you read their compelling stories and the stories of nine others who made The Unexpected Journey from non-Christian beliefs to faith in Jesus Christ. You'll rediscover the power of the gospel. You might even be emboldened to tell others about Christ yourself. Unexpected journeys beyond * Mormonism * Judaism * Hinduism * Atheism * Jehovah's Witness * Agnosticism * Wiccan Paganism * Buddhism * Unitarianism * Astrology * Islam * Satanism

Don Reed, Thom S. Rainer (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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The Unchurched Next Door

If You Invite Them, They Will Come. It's true. In a national survey done by author Thom Rainer and his staff, eight out of ten unchurched men and women said they would come to church---if only someone would invite them. When and how is the next big question. Rainer helps you figure out where your neighbors, friends, and coworkers are in their spiritual quest, and how you can know who among the unchurched people in your life are receptive to Christ. In this fascinating book, Rainer identifies five 'faith stages'---levels of responsiveness, prefixed with a 'U' for 'Unchurched'---that represent your running buddy, your sister-in-law, or your hairdresser: U1 Highly receptive to hearing and believing the Good News U2 Receptive to the gospel and church U3 Neutral, with no clear signs of being interested yet perhaps being open to discussion U4 Resistant to the gospel, but with no antagonistic attitude U5 Highly antagonistic and even hostile to the gospel 'A discovery we made is that reaching lost and unchurched people is not always best accomplished with some cookie-cutter strategy,' Rainer writes. 'The unchurched are different in how they respond to the gospel.' How different? You'll be amazed at the variables that exist when it comes to how open people are to the Christian message. Once you've recognized which stage your unchurched friends and family are, you can much more effectively connect them with Christ. Open this book, and open your mind and heart to the powerful new possibilities of reaching The Unchurched Next Door.

Don Reed, Thom S. Rainer (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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The Naked Gospel

I found myself lying on the floor of my apartment, sobbing for hours on end: 'God, I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do, and I still don't feel closer to you. In fact, I feel worse than ever! How could this have gone wrong? I can't see any way out. Help me.' As a university student, Andrew Farley found himself physically and emotionally addicted to street evangelism and Bible study. Yet despite his fervid behavior, he knew something was missing. That something was an understanding of the gospel that is stripped of the compromises and cliches of the modern church. The Naked Gospel finds friends among those who are burned out on experience-chasing, ceremonialism, or legalism. It attacks churchy jargon and powerless ideas and puts forth a message that is simple but life-changing. With a fresh take on Scripture and unapologetic style, The Naked Gospel will challenge you and stir you to re-examine everything you thought you already knew.

Andrew Farley, Don Reed (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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The Multiplying Church

The Multiplying Church is a primer for pastors and lay leaders involved in, or wanting to learn about, the church multiplication groundswell in North America. It shows how multiplying churches should be a natural, regular function of every church to reach the 70 percent of Americans who have no meaningful church relationship. Detailing the stories and guiding principles of this dramatic growth, this guide offers insight on: * Why churches are multiplying in the East but not in the West * Keys to church multiplication * The missing link---pregnant mother churches * Antioch vs. Jerusalem: Which got it right? * What kind of churches should we start? * What is the end game of church planting? * How big does a church have to be to start multiplying churches? * Church planting movements or Jesus movements? Bob Roberts helps us return to an early-church model of multiplication where a single church sent laypeople out to plant other communities of believers.

Bob Roberts Jr., Don Reed (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

We've read all the hot books on evangelism, we've attended scores of seminars---and still we're not reaching the unchurched. Eighty to ninety percent of churchless Americans will never darken our culturally relevant, seeker-sensitive doors. What are we missing? Maybe we've been asking the wrong people. Instead of consulting the unchurched masses, it's time we heard what the small but important minority who have recently begun attending a church have to say. What made the difference for them? What critical factors helped spark their faith in Jesus and drew them into the community of believers? Thom S. Rainer, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth, shares the results and conclusions of his school's groundbreaking survey of the formerly unchurched. At last, here are proven insights into what evangelistically effective churches are doing right. Flying in the face of much contemporary wisdom, the answers will surprise you. This is truly one of the most valuable resources you can own as a church leader. Filled with charts, graphs, and other visual aids, plus an abundance of true-life accounts, this book explodes common myths about the unchurched. You'll discover Why pastors and doctrinal preaching are critical The enormous influence of family and relationships Which things matter more than we'd thought, and which matter less What causes visitors to return The traits of unchurched-reaching leaders How to preach effectively to the unchurched How to become a church for the unchurched And much, much more This eye-opening compendium of information includes reproducible appendices that can help you fine-tune or even restructure your church. From one of the nations foremost authorities on evangelism and church growth, here are insights and tools that will change the way you think of and deal with--and win--unchurched men and women who long to connect with God. Photocopyable material includes Unchurched-Reaching Readiness Inventory Church Health Survey

Don Reed, Thom S. Rainer (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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Night Watch, Volume 1

"Night Watch" was radio's first "reality show", a program that brought live and authentic police drama to the airwaves. Each week, Don Reed accompanied Officer Ron Perkins on the night watch in Culver City, California. Traveling in an unmarked car, Reed used a heavy battery-powered tape recorder, complete with a microphone cleverly concealed inside the casing of a flashlight, to participate in and record real police calls. These were authentic, unscripted, and unrehearsed adventures, with no actors, no expectations, and nothing planned in advance.

Don Reed (Author), Don Reed (Narrator)

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Membership Matters

Insights from Effective Churches on New Member Classes and Assimilation Findings from a national study to improve membership classes and to motivate current members into active ministry. How do churches move members---both old and new---into ministry? Many church staff and lay leaders know they need to start new member classes as a point of entry into their churches but don't know how. This book is based on a national study of effective churches and shows how growing churches implement new member classes and motivate their members into ministry. Membership Matters is designed to be a guide for church leaders wanting to start or improve a membership class. It includes models for classes and examples of resources such as church covenants, class schedules, and lesson outlines. It also gives direction on motivating uninvolved members to participate in ministry. One chapter chronicles an ongoing discussion among pastors of growing churches that are effectively motivating members to do ministry.

Chuck Lawless, Don Reed (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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Just Walk Across the Room

What if you knew that by simply crossing the room and saying hello to someone, you could change that person's forever? Just a few steps to make an eternal difference. It has nothing to do with methods and everything to do with taking a genuine interest in another human being. All you need is a heart that's in tune with the Holy Spirit and a willingness to venture out of your 'Circle of Comfort' and into another person's life. Just Walk Across the Room brings personal evangelism into the twenty-first century. Building on the solid foundation laid in Becoming a Contagious Christian, Bill Hybels shows how you can participate in the model first set by Jesus, who stepped down from heaven 2,000 years ago to bring hope and redemption to broken people living in a fallen world. Now it's your turn. Your journey may not be as dramatic, but it can have a life-changing impact for someone standing a few steps away from you---and for you as well, as you learn the power of extending care, compassion, and inclusiveness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The highest value in personal evangelism is cooperating with the Spirit, says Hybels. This means playing only the role you're meant to play---walking when the Spirit says to walk, talking when he says to talk, and falling silent when he suggests that you've said enough. Hybels encourages you to 'live in 3D' ... ---Developing friendships ---Discovering stories ---Discerning appropriate next steps ... as a means of learning to understand the Holy Spirit's promptings. With fresh perspectives from his own reflections and experiences collected during his most recent decade of ministry, Bill Hybels shows with convincing and inspiring clarity the power of this personal, richly relational approach to evangelism. The stakes are high. The implications are eternal. And you may be only a conversation away from having an eternal impact on someone's life---if you will just walk across the room.

Bill Hybels, Don Reed (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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Breakout Churches

Breakout Churches Can Your Church Become One? This is the story of thirteen churches and the leaders who moved them from stagnancy to growth and from mediocrity to greatness. Drawing on one of the most comprehensive studies ever on the church, this book reveals the process of becoming a 'breakout' church and the factors that lead to this spiritual metamorphosis. Eighty percent of the approximately 400,000 churches in the United States are either declining or at a plateau. Is there hope for the American church? Breakout Churches offers a resounding 'yes!' and offers specific examples and principles to help you and your church become more effective.

Don Reed, Thom S. Rainer (Author), Don Reed, Zondervan Publishing (Narrator)

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