If you’re enjoying the fall Bible Study about the Apostle Paul, you’ll love…

…Pastor Wesley’s inspirational four-part series, The Struggles of Paul: I Will Survive preached in the summer of 2010.  Using Paul as an example, Pastor Wesley illustrates how we can weather the rough patches along life’s journey.  Feel free to stop by the JOP Library to borrow the DVDs or if you want to purchase, order from the ASBC Media Ministry.

Want to learn more about Paul? Check out these books in the JOP Library.

Brauch, Manfred T. Hard Sayings of Paul. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1989.

Dunn, James D. The Theology of Paul the Apostle. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1998.

Gardner, Paul D. The Complete Who’s Who in the Bible.Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995.

Hawthorne, Gerald F. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

ASBC Fall Bible Study: Faith and Life Lessons from the Journeys of Paul in the Book of Acts

Here’s the outline for ASBC’s fall Bible Study which will cover the life Paul.  Bible Study begins each Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., immediately following prayer and praise which begins at 6:30 p.m.  If you are unable to attend, consider streaming live.

September 25 – Introduction – Biography and Significance of the Apostle Paul; Introduction to the book of Acts; Paul’s journeys

October 2 - Acts 13:1-14:26 – Paul’s First Journey

October 9 – Acts 14:27-15:35; Galatians – The First Jerusalem Council

October 16 – Acts 15:36-16:40; Philippians – Paul in Philippi

October 23 – Acts 17; I & II Thessalonians – Conflict Between the Diaspora Jews and Emerging Christianity

October 30 – Acts 18:1-17; I Corinthians – Paul in Corinth

November 13 – Acts 18:24-19:41 – Paul in Ephesus

November 27 - Acts 20:1-22:29 – Paul Back in Jerusalem

December 11 – Acts 22:30-24:27 – Paul Pro Se

December 18 – Acts 25:1-26:32, 28:11-31; I & II Timothy – Luke’s Last Portrait

The Christian Life Institute Recommends…

This is part of a series featuring books recommended by the Christian Life Institute at Alfred Street Baptist Church.  The titles featured this week are available in the JOP Library  and may be checked out by ASBC members.  For more information, contact the librarian.

Katie’s Cannon…Womanism and the Soul of the Black Community
by Katie Geneva Cannon

New York: The Continuum International Publishing Group, 2008.

Through a series of essays, Dr. Katie Cannon takes the reader from the degrading system of slavery and the white church’s complicity in justifying it through “Jim Crowism,” the northern migration and the Black Liberation Movements of the l960’s and l970’s. At every level the Black community drew strength from within by passing on its rules for survival using moral values and oral traditions. She specifically addresses the challenges of the Black woman who faces race, gender and class discrimination and the role of the Black woman writer to both chronicle the challenges and highlight the creativity displayed in overcoming them. An intellectually stimulating and sensitive read.

The Michael Eric Dyson Reader
by Michael Eric Dyson

New York: Basic Civitas Books, 2004.

The Michael Eric Dyson Reader is a collection of essays, book reviews, chapters from other books, debates, magazine articles, speeches, as well as original chapters written by Dr. Dyson. This book is both interesting and powerful reading. It helps you get insight into the person, his belief system, his understanding of race and gender, and his constant defense and explication of African American culture and behavior in a society that seems to understand neither. Michael Eric Dyson reveals much about himself, and presents rationale for positions he takes—many of which are controversial. He does not offer many solutions. Instead, he puts the issues on the table, presents the facts, analyzes and critiques them, and leaves his findings to be dealt with by the public at large. Dr. Dyson says, “The role of the black intellectual is to discover, uncover, and recover truth, as best we can, and to subject our efforts to healthy debate and examination.” The Michael Eric Dyson Reader is a great book to read and digest, and motivate the reader to take action.

Annotations by Christian Life Institute board members.

New on the blog…Recommended Web Sites

Check out the new page, Recommended Web Sites, which has links to Bible study tools, scholarly resources, Alfred Street Baptist Church affiliations and more.

The Christian Life Institute Recommends…

This is the first in a series of posts with recommended readings by the Christian Life Institute at Alfred Street Baptist Church.  All titles featured are available in the JOP Library  and may be checked out by members.  For more information, contact the librarian.

Jesus: The Only Way to God
by John Piper

Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2010.

Piper asked the question, “Is Jesus the only way to salvation”? He feels that in today’s world, many have dropped the belief that Jesus is the way to God. If you believe this and try to promote this belief, you are arrogant and uninformed. He makes a plea for believers to be aggressive in their quest to evangelize the world. Other religions are winning the race to tell and teach that the belief in Jesus as the only way to salvation is hateful and despicable. The urgency to tell of God’s love and plan of salvation is eminent.

This book is easy to read (123 pages) and it will make you think and move as God’s people are required. If you believe, you are nudged to action and not content to sit by idly. This book is a must read for those who are timid about pursuing God’s redemptive plan for his people.

The Goodness of God
by Randy Alcorn

Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2010.

The Goodness of God is an inspirational book to encourage Christians as they journey through life experiencing personal suffering and the suffering of family members. Secondly, he suggests when dealing with the evils of the world, remember what Jesus sacrificed so that we may life. Not only does he put in perspective what we experience daily in our Christian walk, but how we can deal with the suffering and evil we constantly confront on our journey. Finally, the author encourages us to learn the importance of perspective, persistence, and prayer especially in times of discouragement and doubt.

Annotations by Christian Life Institute board members.

Recommended Reading for ASBC Ministries

The JOP Library Blog now has links to recommended reading for the following ASBC ministries:  Grief Share, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Men’s Ministry, and Women’s Ministry.  All lists are available on the ASBC Ministry Resources page.