The best
Adult Christian Ministry books:
Reddit reviews
From 3.5 billion Reddit comments
The best of Adult Christian Ministry books by number of unique Reddit comments:
![Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God Member Book [Revised]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51vUuD4qyXL._SL500_.jpg)
Top Reddit reviews mentioning Adult Christian Ministry books:
Thank you so much for posting! I've been pondering similar questions, from a different angle, but coming to similar conclusions. Lately, there seems to be a movement towards relying on politicians and laws to bring about God's Will, and this seems like a very confused approach.
I don't think God intended Christians to wield power like a sword to the head, visibly strong and ascendant, but rather like a persistent whisper to the heart: Easily dismissed at first, until the truth of it inundates the listener and they begin to listen to the other holy whispers - the whispers brought to them by the Holy Spirit, the quiet voice of God.
Thank you for the reading suggestion. I found a link to it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1586170295/
Frank Sheed has an excellent explanation in his book Theology and Sanity. It really helped me wrap my head around what we're talking about.
1) Your experience is not so weird as you may think.
2) Many saints wrestled with atheism on their way to the faith (Augustine of Hippo, perhaps the foremost example)
3) If there is a specific aspect of the Catholic Christian faith you struggle with, MiddleEuphoric has given an excellent list of resources.
4) However, if the prospect of believing looks, feels, seems too overwhelming, that is an accurate assessment of reality. Faith is, more than anything, a gift. Without Christ, we cannot believe. It is in the title of your post: “Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mk 9:23-34).
5) As you ask, ‘what should I do,’ I will give three practical options:
a. Pray: As Augustine was admonished in his conversion tolle lege “take up and read [the Bible]” read it prayerfully: “we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles.”[1]
b. Pray: I cannot stress the act enough. If you want an introduction to praying, I recommend Peter Kreeft’s Prayer for Beginners https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Beginners-Peter-Kreeft/dp/0898707757
c. Find someone to converse and pray with. No one becomes Christian alone. Saints are supported by saints. Even, Mary – the ‘first Christian’ – received Jesus as a gift and had Joseph to lean on.
---Bib----
[1] DV 25; cf. Phil. 3:8; Ambrose, "De Afficiis Ministrorum" 1,20,88; (cf. CCC 2653).
Theology and Sanity by Frank Sheed. Makes theology easy to understand.
Bible Basics for Catholics by Dr. John Bergsma. While you may not be Catholic, this book is about the Old Testament and points out the covenants, what a covenant is, and other things that we all need to know about the OT. It's easily understood and a good read.
The Bible Study I believe is the #1 best, by far, that I have ever done is Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God. He has a book and a workbook but you can get by with just the workbook if you like. It's broken down so nicely where you have a lesson every day. There are thought provoking exercises and review questions. It's just an overall great study for believers and really gets you tuned in to actually be able to hear from God yourself! You can find it on Amazon but you might find it elsewhere cheaper, it's about $20. I'm not sponsored by Amazon or anyone else. My mother and I agree this study is awesome.
As far as the prayer, we are working on it. I'll post a link here once it's done. If you'd rather us e-mail it to you, go to www.thefathershouse.com, click on the "Contact Us" button and leave a message with your e-mail and we'll be sure you get it. Otherwise just keep checking back here :)
All that I ask is that you give the podcast a listen when you have time and, if you feel led to, leave a comment on the video on YouTube to let us know what you think (or if you're listening on Spotify, a follow would be awesome). Don't feel obligated! I'll still give you the prayer no matter what. Take Care!!
Hello!
I had this question a couple of years ago when I first came back to the Church. This book helped me a lot: https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Beginners-Peter-Kreeft/dp/0898707757/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2O1Y31J3LICLO&keywords=prayer+for+beginners+by+peter+kreeft&qid=1650164018&sprefix=prayer+for+beginn%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1
It's an easy and lovely read, and it has pretty specific suggestions for prayer.
My congratulations/condolences.
To echo another post, lots of love and patience, along with leadership skills.
You might try this:
​
https://www.amazon.com/Vestry-Handbook-Third-Revised/dp/0819224391
Hey there, sorry for the delayed reply: I couldn't see your response until now for some reason. Bishop Barron is great, but the best introduction to Catholicism would be Ratzinger's Introduction to Christianity: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Christianity-2nd-Communio-Books/dp/1586170295. Ratzinger is a genius and I can't think of a better introduction than his.
A good primer is the Experiencing God workbook by Henry Blackaby. God is always at work. And he is speaking all the time. But are we listening? And can we discern his voice from all the other voices out there? Jesus said 'my sheep know my voice, and the voice of another they will not follow'.
Just like anything else, it involves getting to know God personally. Having a relationship with him. Talking casually and honestly (and not so religiously) with him. Letting him into your life and sharing with him as you would with a close friend. And then just being open for what he wants to speak to you. As we look at the scriptures and get to know the character of God, it becomes easier to see and hear what he might be saying. If I know who God is, I can discern his voice from others. Just like if my mom calls me on the phone. I know who she is and how her voice sounds. But even if an imposter were mimicking her voice, I would also be able to discern my mom's character. I know the things she would say and the things she wouldn't say. And we can know the types of things that Jesus would say vs the types of things he wouldn't say.
The Spirit of God is just as alive and talkative as he has always been. He can speak through scripture, through the church, through various people, through situations, or even through a donkey if he wants.
Or internally, it can be dreams, visions, a gentle speaking to our heart, or just a revelationary 'knowing' of something. God sometimes gives me visions...almost like a mental picture or a small daydream. Do they always make sense? No. But we can ask for interpretation and understanding. But there are so many ways God can speak if we are open and attentive and if we simply continue to explore and ask through the Spirit.
God be with you. Mike
A little aside, but since you're Catholic you might find Frank Sheed's Theology and Sanity (https://www.amazon.com/Theology-Sanity-Frank-Sheed/dp/0898704707) an interesting introduction to the more "intellectual" side of Catholicism. I'm reading it now and it's a very good and readable introduction to theology. There is also has a shorter version called Theology for Beginners (https://www.amazon.com/Theology-Beginners-Frank-Sheed/dp/1887593926).
That is a rather crude question that does not trouble philosophers or theologians. No one created God. God must exist because of who God is. His essence (His nature) and His existence are the same, and all existence comes from him. Indeed, He is existence itself. In other words, everything in the universe depends on something else for its existence. This chain of existence cannot go on to infinity, or else nothing would ever exist. Therefore, there must be a being which does not receive its existence, but is the cause of the existence of everything else. That is God.
I highly recommend Frank Sheed's Theology and Sanity , which will clear up these questions.
How about a book? Introduction to Christianity
You may be interested in Rene Girard's mimetic theory, and how the sacrifice of Jesus satisfies the violence that mimetic desire ultimately brings to communities. In this way, Girard argues, Jesus is superior to the myths of conflict resolution that came before, because he invites us to imitate God, who is free from all desire. Through Jesus, we can end our attachment to desire, and bring about peace.
"I See Satan Fall Like Lightning" is a helpful resource here. It's in PDF here.
EDIT: You may also be interested in Introduction to Christianity. Ratzinger makes some very compelling arguments about Jesus, including the idea that Jesus is quite literally a Greek persona or a mask through which we can see and emulate God.
The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
> 'I shall never cease to be grateful to...Richard Sibbes who was balm to my soul at a period in my life when I was overworked and badly overtired, and therefore subject in an unusual manner to the onslaughts of the devil...I found at that time that Richard Sibbes, who was known in London in the early seventeenth century as "The Heavenly Doctor Sibbes" was an unfailing remedy...The Bruised Reed.. quieted, soothed, comforted, encouraged and healed me.' --D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The bruised reed and the smoldering wick. What you are experiencing is something that Christians large and small face at times in their life. There are those early days when the flame of our passion and zeal is strongly burning and there are days where it seems to be barely lit.
This book provides excellent insight into those lower times. It's gentle words are a good reminder for the professed Christian to move forward and thoughts around how to do that.
In reading this book I was sorely disappointed that I didn't read this earlier in my Christian walk. It is currently a help and will continue to be so in the future. Good words to meditate on throughout the day.
Of additional recommended reading materials (along with scripture) this would rank in my top 5.
> You might check it out.
I have, believe it or not. I went to a Bible college with a pretty liberal OT class. I still keep my copy of Lasor, Hubbard and Bush from those days, and I do refer to it from time to time.
What you call "lazy" I call freedom. I don't put words into God's mouth. He puts Words into my mouth. If that's lazy, then so be it. But I know, without a doubt, that when the time comes, I will not be ashamed that I took God literally at His Word.
I pray you can have the same assurances on that day.
Because he's an attention-seeker, he has a book on Amazon about being a priest and liking Star Wars. Somehow I doubt the proceeds go to charity either, given the life of luxury he seems to be living, as showcased on his youtube channel.