Christianity Audiobooks | Religion & Spirituality

Treasures in the Dark: 90 Reflections on Finding Bright Hope Hidden in the Hurting

Sometimes the most valuable treasures are found in the darkest of times. In fact, it's often in the very heart of our deepest pain and struggle that God chooses to reveal his most precious gifts. Let Katherine Wolf lead you in finding the hope God has for you in your most painful places. In our lowest, most difficult moments, it's often impossible to see any good thing around us. We suffer, we struggle, we grow weary. We wonder, Is God at work in my life? Is he near me? Is there any point to my suffering and any hope for change? Though it's easy for our overwhelming pain to cloud our view of reality, the truth is that, even though we can't see it or feel it, God is at work in the darkness. Our Creator is in the business of bringing dead-and nearly dead-things to life. Even now, no matter how fresh your wounds might be, he invites you to unearth his hidden treasures in your hurting, to reframe your darkness as a sacred space in which the light of hope can shine most brilliantly. Come join Katherine Wolf as she vulnerably shares her own places of wounding and the life-changing insights she has found there. Treasures in the Dark will guide you as you - find grace for the heartbreak of unmet expectations; - explore the surprising intersection of pain and purpose; - wholeheartedly embrace the life you never imagined living with perseverance and joy; and - recognize how your healing can be a part of the world's healing. With her vibrant faith and unique perspective on life as a stroke survivor and person living with significant disabilities, Katherine will inspire, encourage, and strengthen tender and hurting hearts.

Katherine Wolf (Author), Alex Wolf, Katherine Wolf (Narrator)

Audiobook

Now and Not Yet: Pressing in When You’re Waiting, Wanting, and Restless for More

Bestselling author Ruth Chou Simons guides readers who are restless in their current circumstances on a journey of growth, purpose, and pressing in. Too often, we feel disappointed with our 'right now'--our life circumstances, our relationships, our progress, our daily grind. We want to do so many things--good, godly things--but our situations don't allow us to step into them. Are we missing out on our own lives? Why does right now seem so far from where we really long to be? Bestselling author Ruth Chou Simons reminds us that it's okay to not like the right now we've been given, but we don't have to like it to lean in. In Now and Not Yet, Ruth shows us how to.. . - embrace the biblical truth that someday is made up of thousands of right nows; - discern how the difficult parts of our lives are actually a unique gift by discovering five ways to flip the script on a hard season; - stop feeling trapped when we are not where we want to be with guided liturgies for what we are facing today; and - live faithfully in the tension between what is and what is not yet. Your right now matters. And you can choose to press in and not check out. To know God is at work even when you don't see the progress you're looking for. To start where you are in this very moment. Because he's not through with you yet.

Ruth Chou Simons (Author), Ruth Simons (Narrator)

Audiobook

Church History in Plain Language Audio Lectures

The Zondervan Biblical and Theological Lectures series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, Church History in Plain Language Audio Lectures include high quality live-recordings of college-level lectures that cover the important points from each subject as well as relevant material from other sources. This is the story of the church for today. This series, based on Bruce Shelley's classic history of the church, brings the story of global Christianity into the twenty-first century. Taught by experts in the field of Christian history, each lesson tells a story of actual people, in a particular situation, taking action or being acted upon, and provides a window into the circumstances and historical context of a major period or theme of Christian history. Church History in Plain Language Audio Lectures takes a closer look at the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphere, addresses the decline in traditional mainline denominations, examines the influence of technology on the spread of the gospel, and discusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world. Lessons add important stories of the development of Christianity in Asia, India, and Africa, both in the early church as well as in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It also highlights the stories of women and non-Europeans who significantly influenced the development of Christianity but whose contributions are often overlooked in previous overviews of church history. This series provides an introductory guide to church history with intellectual substance.

Bruce Shelley (Author), Bruce Shelley, Marshall Shelley, Ryan Tafilowski, Stacey Lingle (Narrator)

Audiobook

Faith Embodied: Glorifying God with Our Physical and Spiritual Health

Scientist, physician, and pastor Stephen Ko explains how to live and worship incarnationally and glorify God with our bodies. Many of us don't see much connection between spiritual and physical health. We say grace before digging into greasy, fatty meals we know are bad for us. We read Scripture on our phones before switching to social media feeds that hijack the neural circuitry in our brains. Or we take our physical health too seriously, distancing ourselves from the sick and the needy whom Jesus embraced. On his journey from pediatrician to public health officer for the CDC to senior pastor of the largest New York Chinese Alliance Church, Stephen Ko has seen that these divisions between physical and spiritual health are artificial. In Faith Embodied, he reminds us that our 'bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit' (1 Corinthians 6:19). Christ incarnate is deity in flesh, and His spirit is incarnate in us. Living and worshiping incarnationally is consciously embracing what the Creator has designed in His image, from the finest, microscopic details to vital organs within our body, enabling the Holy Spirit to work in us. Faith Embodied will teach you to: - Understand subconscious ways that thwart the design of the Creator. - Embrace choices that invite incarnational health, living, and worship. - Experience God in every aspect of your life, from flesh and bone to heart and soul. - View the five senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste) in a different light - Reflect the image of God in the way you breathe, move, create, love, and rest. Weaving together insights from faith, science, and medicine, Ko reveals the marvelous ways in which our physical and spiritual health can prepare us to become instruments of God's healing in the world.

Stephen Ko (Author), Max Newland, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Seen, Secure, Free: How a Life Hidden with Christ Strengthens and Transforms You

In a world that screams Be Seen! Be Known! and often measures value by likes and shares and follows, it's easy to feel invisible, unheard, unloved. But God's Word offers a powerful and freeing counternarrative: true treasure is actually found in the 'hidden' life of Christ. Somewhere along the way, we've confused our level of visibility with our value. We've mixed up fame with fruitfulness. We've equated exposure with excellence. But what if we stopped trying so hard to be seen, recognized, and affirmed by the world around us? What if there's a different way of living altogether? Seen, Secure, Free unpacks the great promise in Colossians 3:3: 'Your life is hidden with Christ in God' and reminds us that when God hides us in himself, he provides a non-negotiable, never-ending source of contentment, identity, and worth. Join Bible teacher Allison Allen as she explores the incredible power of hiddenness in nature, history, and Scripture, which will help you: - Let go of the pressure to be recognized and praised by others; - Release the resentment that comes from feeling unseen or misunderstood; - Find contentment in a loving God who knows you deeply; - Find security in a powerful God who establishes your identity, worth, and purpose; - Reset your motivations and goals to align with his kingdom; and - Feel freed to pursue new adventures with Jesus No more striving to be seen or wondering if you matter; no more pressure to perform or be visible to the world. Instead, rest assured that God truly sees, knows, and loves you more than any person ever could. And let him lead you into the freedom, joy, and transformative power of a life hidden in him.

Allison Allen (Author), Allison Allen, Lisa Harper (Narrator)

Audiobook

Fighting Shadows: Stop Wasting Time Arguing About What a Man Is---Just Be One

In a world that's grown increasingly confused about--and hostile toward--the very notion of masculinity, authors Jefferson Bethke and Jon Tyson send a powerful call to men everywhere: it's time to step into the light of Jesus' vision for you as a man. There's a shadow that's settled over the hearts of men today. Masculinity is in crisis. Critiques about the dangers of toxic masculinity and the abuses of patriarchal systems have grown louder than ever. The very notions of masculinity and manhood are under attack. In response to cultural shifts, some have doubled down on old stereotypes in ways that just add to the conflict and confusion. The result? Many men simply feel paralyzed--worried about saying the wrong thing, unsure what to do with their ambitions or strengths, simultaneously tempted and shamed by a hypersexualized and pornified culture. Our models and mentors have failed us. Based on their years of working in men's ministry, Bethke and Tyson have good news for men looking for clarity and courage in this age of quiet desperation. In Fighting Shadows, they help men - overcome the temptations of escapism, passivity, or overcompensation; - combat the most harmful shadows that men battle today, including loneliness, apathy, distraction, lust, and shame; and - embrace masculinity as a God-given gift, not a curse to be avoided, suppressed, or battled. An entire generation of men is being told they should abdicate the responsibility and joy of living into God's calling on their lives-don't be one of them. If you're a man who's wondering what to do with your strength, your longings, and your gifts, it's time to step out of the shadows. Jesus has a vision for you.

Jefferson Bethke, Jon Tyson (Author), Jefferson Bethke, Jon Tyson, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Grace, Period.: Living in the Amazing Reality of Jesus' Finished Work

Are you exhausted by life and constant striving? Are you stuck in cycles of shame or anxiety? Pastor and bestselling author Robert Morris shares the only solution-grace, period. In life, we often look for fulfillment in our performance. We try to earn our way to happiness by achieving goals and meeting obligations. We try everything we can to earn favor with God. But what we find instead is disappointment, fear, and weariness. In Grace, Period., Pastor Robert Morris shows that we don't need to live this way. What we truly want has already been given to us-we simply need to receive it! Looking in-depth at the life and teachings of Jesus, Pastor Morris reveals the beauty and perfection of God's amazing grace. He uncovers its sheer abundance, lavishness, and extravagance, and explains what happens in our day-to-day lives when we fully accept it. Exploring the blessings we have now-access to God's love, favor, and approval-Pastor Morris teaches us how to find rest, gratitude, fruitfulness, confidence, joy, and the list goes on. In other words, Grace, Period. is a clear and compelling roadmap for arriving at an end to striving and shame. It's a guide for finding and enjoying the abundant life God sent Jesus to purchase for us. A life given to us by grace-only grace.

Robert Morris (Author), Jamie Renell, Robert Morris, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Listen, Listen, Speak: Hearing God and Being Heard in a Noisy World

We live in an age of noise and it's deafening. Here, learn how to hear God and speak Good News in a way that can be heard. The effects of social media and the news are felt deeply in our day-to-day lives. The countless voices-the pundits, the influencers, the personalities-offering opinions and spewing vitriol nonstop have created a cacophony of chaos. It's difficult to know what's true or who to trust. It's difficult to hear God and be heard. In this book, pastor and author Jay Kim offers thoughtful, concrete guidance for how to listen amidst the noise, hear God, and then speak Good News so to be heard. Drawing on Scripture, social science, and cultural exegesis, Kim helps readers: - Listen through prayer, reading the Bible, and participating in the church - Better understand the environment and effects of social media, news media, and politics - Share the Good News in this environment, encouraging those in your day-to-day life Practical, biblical, and eminently wise, Listen, Listen, Speak is an indispensable guidebook for Christians living in our culture today. It will equip you to not just speak into the chaos with the love of Jesus but more importantly to listen, to one another and to God.

Jay Y. Kim (Author), Jay Y. Kim, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Know the Theologians

Know the Theologians is an introduction to the most important thinkers throughout church history and a demonstration of their ongoing relevance for believers today. The Bible describes the church as a kind of family. Those who believe in Christ are sisters and brothers in the faith, whether they live at the same time or are separated by centuries. For that reason, believers today need to know our family members who have come before and shaped our beliefs and practices now. In Know the Theologians, professors and authors Jennifer Powell McNutt and David W. McNutt introduce the most significant thinkers in the church's history. McNutt and McNutt survey over a dozen primary figures, including Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant theologians, who represent the breadth and depth of the church's theology. The book explores how they fit into their own time period and demonstrates their ongoing relevance today. In addition, it draws attention to the theological voices of women throughout the church's history, and every chapter includes short sidebars on figures contemporary to the main theologians, bringing in additional important voices. As part of the KNOW series, Know the Theologians is designed for either personal study or classroom use, and it will also be an accessible resource for small groups and adult education in churches. Chapters end with reflection questions and recommended reading for further study.

David Mcnutt, Jennifer Powell Mcnutt (Author), Sarah Zimmerman, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Blessed Are the Peacemakers Audio Lectures: A Biblical Theology of Human Violence

The Zondervan Biblical and Theological Lectures series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, Blessed Are the Peacemakers Audio Lectures include high quality live-recordings of college-level lectures that cover the important points from each subject as well as relevant material from other sources. This audio series dives deeply into the topic of human violence. Old Testament scholar Helen Paynter sets out the contours by addressing the various definitions of violence and the theories of its origins, prevalence, and purpose. What is violence? Is violence a human or social construct, or can we describe natural phenomena as violent? How does the concept of violence relate to the concept of evil? How do we resist violence? Starting with the creation narratives in Genesis, ancient Near Eastern myths, and the conquest of Canaan, Blessed Are the Peacemakers Audio Lectures investigates the origins of human violence and its consequences. Through the voices of the prophets and in the teaching of Jesus, the Bible reveals that the seeds of violence exist within every human heart. Even though we see evidence of resistance movements in the Bible, it is only on the cross that an absorption of violence by God takes place through self-sacrifice. Lessons also consider how the first Christians responded to the structural violence of slavery and patriarchy and how they began to apply Jesus's redemptive, non-vengeful theology to their own day. In addition to providing a comprehensive biblical theology of violence, Paynter probes behind the headlines and politicized rhetoric to provide a careful analysis of violence in our world. She concludes by setting forth a bold framework and practical suggestions for an effective and faithful Christian response to the scriptural teaching.

Helen Paynter (Author), Helen Paynter (Narrator)

Audiobook

The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics

For all who want to culturally engage but are exhausted by the tension in our families and churches, The After Party reframes our political identity outside partisan divides while rebuilding strained relationships. This paradigm-shifting book complements The After Party Project--a six-part, video-based, highly interactive curriculum that provides churches, small groups, and individuals with an on-the-ground, biblically based approach to a very complex topic. The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics helps readers who feel despair about political divisiveness: - Engage with others across political differences - Learn specific steps to reframe political identity outside of partisan divides - Focus on how we relate to one another as Jesus teaches before moving to the what of political topics The After Party is ideal for: - Republicans, Democrats, and Independents looking for renewed hope and humility for our nation - Local leaders seeking to counter animosity toward political opponents, susceptibility to lies, and other practices that threaten the common good - Congregations, classes, and small groups watching The After Party video series - Pastors who want to encourage their congregants to trade their partisan mindsets for the mind of Christ It's not too late. In today's political environment, faithfulness to a biblical how of political engagement shines as a radical challenge to both the Right and the Left. If you worry about what politics is doing to your community, your family, and your own well-being, The After Party will transform your political imagination. It's time for us to go beyond party politics and--as Christians--believe in the true 'party' yet to come.

Curtis Chang, Nancy French (Author), Curtis Chang, Greg Stafford (Narrator)

Audiobook

Your Mission in God's Army: Discovering and Completing Your Faith-Filled Assignment before Christ's

Your Ultimate Mission Briefing As the enemy wages war against the Lord's army and the world hurls toward the Second Coming of Christ, God has a unique Kingdom deployment for each of us. Highlighting both the urgency and divine opportunity of these difficult days, retired US Army colonel David Giammona and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Troy Anderson initiate you into God's army. With sharp clarity and motivating biblical instruction, this hands-on manual prepares you to discern your divine destiny and mission; develop your hidden spiritual gifts; walk in supernatural power, protection, and provision; glean wisdom from US military intelligence tactics and strategies; employ powerful techniques and disciplines used by biblical heroes; and find your place in the greater mission to help bring in the end-times harvest. Rather than huddle in fear and uncertainty, you can live with boldness and security, walking by faith as a dynamic, purpose-filled, fully armored warrior of God. You are not just a bystander in these extraordinary times-you are a crucial and remarkable part of God's divine plan.

Col. David J. Giammona, Troy Anderson (Author), Basil Sands (Narrator)

Audiobook

Christianity Audiobooks in Religion & Spirituality