52 Weeks with Jesus

James Merritt

Description

Jesus Christ is the most influential human to ever walk the earth. We've heard and seen so many depictions of Him that we think we know Him better than we actually do. If we took the time to really look at Him, we might be surprised at what we'd find.In 52 Weeks with Jesus, author and pastor James Merritt leads you on a transformational journey as he shares what he's learned over a lifetime of studying Jesus' life and ministry. As you join Dr. Merritt on this journey, you will come to know and encounter Jesus in new and surprising ways and be inspired anew to embrace His invitation, "Come, follow Me."Filled with practical applications and surprising truths, this book will help you more ably answer that ancient question that's as timely today as when it was first posed: "Who do you say that I am?"

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9780736961035
• Langue: English

Extrait

Endorsements
James Merritt s challenge to spend 52 weeks with Jesus is one of both great discipline and great delight. Your passion for Jesus will grow and your life will be transformed through the time you spend in his Word with 52 Weeks with Jesus .
- Thom S. Rainer , president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, author of I Am a Church Member and Autopsy of a Deceased Church
In 52 Weeks with Jesus , James Merritt gifts us with a rich, accessible guide to knowing Jesus more intimately that promises to change the way you see yourself, God, and others. This book will help you drink deeply of the living water, munch on the bread of life, and draw closer to the good shepherd than you ever have before. Read with caution-you ll walk away changed.
- Margaret Feinberg , author of Wonderstruck and Fight Back with Joy
James Merritt is clear, on point, and writes with authority, wisdom, and compassion. In this book, he confronts the reader page after page with Jesus. Spending time in this book will surprise you, enlighten you, and just might change your life.
- Russell D. Moore, president , Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention
Jesus may be the most misunderstood person in history, and part of the reason is that most people have never taken time to actually study his life and teachings, Christians not excluded. It s easy to forget that Jesus was not simply an idea or a topic to debate. Rather, he was a man who turned the world upside down by who he was, the things he said, and what he did. James Merritt s 52 Weeks with Jesus is an accessible, digestible exploration of Christ s sermons, stories, and miracles. It shatters myths, shakes assumptions, and is littered with surprising insights you ve probably never considered. Thank you, Dr. Merritt, for painting a picture of Jesus that is true and textured and as graceful as the first-century Rabbi himself!
- Tullian Tchividjian , pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and author of One Way Love
52 Weeks with Jesus presents dozens of metaphors for Jesus and backs each one up with biblical references, commentaries, meditations, and prayers. I plan to gift it to others often.
- Leonard Sweet , Drew University, George Fox University, Sermons.com
Scripture tells us that blessed is the man who delights in the Word of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. In 52 Weeks with Jesus , James Merritt provides a believer with a year s worth of meditations on the Word made flesh. His observations on the life, ministry, and Lordship of Jesus are winsome, wise, and well written. Anyone who commits to spending 52 weeks meditating on our Lord will be blessed beyond measure for the effort.
- Ed Stetzer , LifeWay Research
People often approach the biblical narratives of Jesus like a coroner dissecting a corpse, and then wonder why their relationship with Christ is so lifeless. In 52 Weeks with Jesus , Dr. James Merritt leads readers on a year-long journey to meet, experience, and fall in love with the most important person in history.
- Andy Stanley , senior pastor, North Point Ministries
To know Jesus is to fall madly in love with Jesus. To understand who he is and what he did (and continues to do!) is to be awed and amazed. It will drive you to worship and then service in gratitude for such a great King. James Merritt helps us spend a year in devotional study of the Son of God. I read the book in a single sitting and was once again overwhelmed at the greatness and goodness of my Savior. So, spend a year and soak in this study. I am convinced you will never be the same.
- Daniel L. Akin , president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
This powerful new book offers a fresh look at Jesus, cutting through centuries of misunderstanding with utter simplicity. James Merritt deeply loves Jesus Christ, and in this book you learn why you should love and follow Jesus, too.
- Albert Mohler , president, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Two thousand years ago, an unknown carpenter invited a few extraordinarily ordinary people to be with him. That invitation is still on the table, and has changed the world like none other. Now James Merritt has made it concrete and accessible to ordinary people in our day. I can t think of a better way to spend 52 weeks than to learn from this book how to spend them with Jesus.
- John Ortberg , senior pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church
One of the great ironies of our day is that many people find Jesus boring or-at best-sentimental. No one in the Bible ever found Jesus boring. People either loved him or hated him; flocked to him in admiration or plotted his death. In this helpfully laid out study, James Merritt helps you see the real Jesus-and you ll likely have one of those two reactions. You might be surprised. You might be enraged. But you ll at least know you ve encountered the real thing.
- J.D. Greear , pastor, The Summit Church
God s Word transforms us. It transforms me. It transforms you. My co-laborer for the gospel, James Merritt, invites us to invest time daily in God s Word and get to know Jesus. This resource is systematic, compelling, and filled with vivid illustrations. Through it you will find the Scriptures revealing Christ in a fresh way as you spend time with him each day.
- James MacDonald , senior pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel, author of Vertical Church and Come Home
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Verses marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Verses marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Verses marked NCV are from the New Century Version . Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Verses marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible , 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org )
Verses marked MSG are from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Cover design by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota
Cover photo jasoncphoto / Fotolia
Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth Associates, Inc.
52 WEEKS WITH JESUS
Copyright 2014 by James Merritt
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
ISBN 978-0-7369-6101-1 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-7369-6502-6 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-6103-5 (eBook)
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author s and publisher s rights is strictly prohibited.
Dedication
I dedicate this book to the Lord Jesus Christ.
There s nobody like Jesus.
Never has been.
Never will be.
C ONTENTS
Endorsements
Dedication
Foreword
Introduction: The One and Only
How to Read This Book
Section One: Jesus, the Transformer
1. Just Like Us
2. A Misfit Among Misfits
3. A Messy Messiah
Section Two: Jesus, the Answer
4. Bread for the Journey
5. Light in a Dark Place
6. An Open Door
7. The Good Life
8. A Grave Buster
9. A One-Way Street
10. The Root of the Fruit
Section Three: Jesus, the Miracle Worker
11. A Man of Marvels
12. Crisis Manager
13. Captain of My Ship
14. A Miraculous Multiplier
15. A Leader Worth Following
16. The Great Empathizer
17. The Divine Ophthalmologist
18. Spiritually Sovereign
Section Four: Jesus, the Storyteller
19. The Seed Sower
20. The Best Boss
21. The Eye Opener
22. The Divine Auditor
23. A Better Financial Planner
24. The God of Tomorrow
25. The Life of the Party
26. A Hospitable Host
27. The Object of Our Worship
28. The Grace Giver
29. Discerner of the Heart
30. A Divine Divider
Section Five: Jesus, the Teacher
31. Flying Standby
32. A Prayer Warrior
33. Focused on the Father
34. The One Who Provides
35. The Treasure Principle
36. A Marriage Counselor
37. Can One Become Two?
38. Love: Can Two Stay One?
39. The Number One Priority
Section Six: Jesus, the Helper
40. The Thirst Quencher
41. A Most Valuable Treasure
42. A Gracious Judge
43. Always Available, Always Accessible
44. Our Best Friend
Section Seven: Jesus, the Leader
45. The Standard of Greatness
46. A Servant First
47. The Victor
48. Commander in Chief
Section Eight: Jesus, the Overcomer
49. The Passion of the Christ-the Rest of the Story
50. His Grace, My Place
51. The Warrior Rises
52. Dead Man Walking
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Notes
About the Publisher
Foreword
You can t play Bach without expert fingering. But if you focus on the fingering and not the music, you can t play Bach. For at least a century, biblical scholars have focused more on the fingering than the music, and so the strains of a biblical faith have sometimes been hard to hear. James Merritt s 52 We