Courageous

Robert Jeffress Dr.

Description

Christians face relentless attacks from an ungodly culture, a formidable adversary, and our own fallen natures. Yet we cannot afford to surrender to these very real enemies. Just as survivalists use 10 specific strategies to overcome threatening situations, Courageous explains 10 biblical strategies for surviving--and thriving--in a world that is hostile to our faith. As A.W. Tozer said, "A scared world needs a fearless church." Courageous is a clarion call for Christians to boldly live out their faith.If you've felt your faith is under attack, if you're struggling with the temptation to follow the crowd despite biblical teaching to the contrary, or if you're just feeling weary, the 10 strategies in Courageous will provide fresh fire and new hope.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 04 février 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493421336
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Endorsements
“If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, this is a must-read book! Though I have taught survival skills to Marines, Boy Scouts, my four kids, and now eighteen grandkids, it never occurred to me to apply these skills to living as a Christian in today’s hostile environment. Thankfully, my friend Dr. Jeffress did—just in time.”
Lt. Col. Oliver North, USMC (Ret.)
“It’s one thing to say we have faith and another thing entirely to know how to live out that faith! In Courageous , my friend Robert Jeffress beautifully helps us understand how to put our faith into real action in our lives—which is of course the whole point!”
Eric Metaxas, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and host of the Eric Metaxas Show
“With all the uncertainty in our world right now, this new book by my friend Robert Jeffress is a welcome encouragement for believers. His Bible-based tips on thriving during challenging times are not only practical and easy to understand but will help you to stand strong in your faith and live victoriously.”
Robert Morris, founding lead senior pastor of Gateway Church and bestselling author of The Blessed Life , Frequency , and Beyond Blessed
“When it comes to living out biblical principles, we quickly discover we’re in an unfriendly culture. Ephesians 5:11 tells us to ‘Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,’ so how then do we build bridges to skeptics and cynics? How do we win wicked people with antagonistic agendas to the side of our Savior? In his remarkable new book, Courageous: 10 Strategies for Thriving in a Hostile World , Dr. Jeffress shows us page-by-page how to live as winsome and effective ambassadors for Jesus Christ, all so that the perishing will come to salvation and God will receive the glory! I give this book a double thumbs-up!”
Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
“No book title ever fit its author’s personality better than this one. One of the words I often use to describe Robert Jeffress is courageous . As a former pastor of First Baptist in Dallas, I have been privileged to watch time and again his courageous yet loving leadership in daily action. This book is not some self-help treatise. These principles have been beaten out on the anvil of the author’s own personal and practical experience. Read it . . . and reap!”
O. S. Hawkins, author of the bestselling Code series of Christian devotionals
“My friend Robert Jeffress has demonstrated courage time and again by boldly preaching God’s Word in the pulpit and answering tough critics in the media. In these pages, he outlines practical survival strategies that will help us courageously navigate the storms of life. Through powerful biblical examples and present-day testimonies, Robert reminds us that the wisdom and supernatural ability God has provided us as believers is more than enough to defeat the enemy’s strategy.”
James Robison, founder and president of LIFE Outreach International, Fort Worth, Texas
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2020 by Robert Jeffress
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2020
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-2133-6
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations labeled Phillips are from The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.
All italics in direct Scripture quotations are the author’s emphasis.
Published in association with Yates & Yates, www.yates2.com.
Dedication
To Jim, Geneva, and Jennifer Donald
Thank you for your love for First Baptist Church Dallas and your vision for Pathway to Victory as we work together “to transform the world with the truth of God’s Word.”
You are an incomparable encouragement to your pastor.
Contents
Cover 1
Endorsements 2
Title Page 3
Copyright Page 4
Dedication 5
Acknowledgments 9
Introduction: A Survival Guide for Christians 11
Survival Tip # 1: Don’t Panic 15
Survival Tip # 2: Gain Situational Awareness 39
Survival Tip # 3: Take Inventory 59
Survival Tip # 4: Develop a Victor, Not a Victim Mindset 83
Survival Tip # 5: Trust Your Training 105
Survival Tip # 6: Bend, Don’t Break 129
Survival Tip # 7: Beware of Celebrating the Summit 155
Survival Tip # 8: Learn from the Past 179
Survival Tip # 9: Help Others 203
Survival Tip # 10: Do the Next Right Thing 225
A Final Thought: Never Give Up Hope! 249
Notes 255
About the Author 263
Back Ads 265
Cover Flaps 269
Back Cover 270
Acknowledgments
Occasionally people will ask me how I manage to be involved in so many different avenues of ministry. The simple answer is that it would be impossible if it were not for the tremendously gifted and dedicated team I’ve been blessed to work with. That team includes . . .
Brian Vos, Mark Rice, Brianna DeWitt, Lindsey Spoolstra, and the entire Baker Books team, who are the best publishing partner I’ve ever worked with.
Derrick G. Jeter, our creative director at Pathway to Victory, and Jennifer Stair, who were instrumental in crafting the message of this book.
Sealy Yates, my literary agent and friend for more than two decades, who always provides encouragement and wise counsel.
Carrilyn Baker, my extraordinary executive associate for nearly two decades, who provides limitless efforts in overseeing all of the complicated work of our office—and always does so with a wonderful attitude. And thank you, Mary Shafer, for assisting Carrilyn and me in innumerable ways—you are a joy to work with!
Ben Lovvorn, the executive pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, and Nate Curtis, Patrick Heatherington, Ben Bugg, and the entire Pathway to Victory team, who extend the message of this book to millions of people throughout the world.
I’m eternally grateful for the support I receive every day from my family. God has blessed me with two wonderful daughters, Julia and Dorothy, a great son-in-law, Ryan Sadler, and my extraordinary triplet grandchildren, Barrett, Blake, and Blair.
But at the very top of the list of those people in my life for whom I am most grateful is my wife of forty-two years, Amy. Thank you for your unconditional love. You are the greatest evidence to me of God’s goodness and grace.
Introduction
A Survival Guide for Christians
As a pastor, author, and news contributor, I travel a lot. My travels have taken me around the world—including the former Soviet Union, Europe, the Middle East, and all over North America. During the millions of air miles I’ve logged, I’ve encountered my share of turbulence and bad weather, and I’ve sat in aircraft that looked less sturdy than the rubber band–powered balsa wood planes I used to build as a kid. But never once, in all my years of flying, have I truly worried that I might not survive a flight and make it back in one piece.
After untold hours of listening to flight attendants give safety instructions, I’ve never needed to put on my oxygen mask before helping other passengers with theirs. I have not opened an emergency exit door or used my seat cushion as a flotation device. And though I think it would be quite a memorable experience, I have never slid down an inflatable rescue ramp.
Thankfully, during all my travels around the world, I haven’t experienced any situation in which I had to make a decision that could mean the difference between life and death. But that’s not the case with the people you will read about in this book. Each chapter opens with a true story that illustrates one of ten survival tips that are critical to make it out of life-threatening situations alive. These essential tips are: Don’t panic. Gain situational awareness. Take inventory. Develop a victor, not a victim mindset. Trust your training. Bend, don’t break. Beware of celebrating the summit. Learn from the past. Help others. Do the next right thing.
Now, I’m not a survivalist; I’m a pastor. So obviously this book isn’t intended to be a manual for surviving a plane crash or trekking across a desert with an empty canteen. You won’t find tips on how to start a fire with a battery and a gum wrapper, how to navigate by the stars, or how to purify water to make it safe to drink.
But most of the struggles you and I face in life have nothing to do with plane crashes, shipwrecks, or burning buildings. Instead, as Christians, we must learn how to survive the daily challenges of living out our faith in this complicated world. It’s easy to get stuck in survival mode, just trying to figure out how to make it through each day. But the life that God calls us to is so much more! In this book, you will find practical tips on how to have courageous faith in a culture that is opposed to God and His truth, as well as the biblical answers, encouragement, and hope you need to thrive in your own personal struggles.
You see, what is true in survival