Although the book of Esther contains no direct references to God, his fingerprints can be found all over it. In God Behind the Scenes, Wayne K. Barkhuizen helps us trace the unseen hand of God throughout the Esther narrative, while pointing out how the book is still relevant today. As we walk through the book, we’ll see how God was indeed active in preserving the people through whom the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would one day come.

The grace of God is often referred to as unmerited favor. In fact, the very meaning of grace is favor. In this extraordinary book written at a time when people need God's favor more than ever, Jerry Savelle shows how the favor of God is not only available to the believer, but also promised. Drawing from his own experience and his deep knowledge of the Scriptures, Dr. Savelle explains how to actively walk and grow in divine favor, and by doing so enjoy the practical as well as the supernatural benefits for such a time as this, when many are living in fear and uncertainty. The Favor of God will not just inspire readers. By God's grace and favor, it will empower them.

Wise Sheep Among the Wolves All Christian disciples have one thing in common: as they carry the gospel across the ocean and across the street, persecution will become the norm for those who choose to follow Jesus. How believers respond in the face of persecution reveals everything about their level of faith and obedience. The Insanity of Obedience is a bold challenge to global discipleship. Nik Ripken exposes the danger of safe Christianity and calls readers to something greater. The Insanity of Obedience challenges Christians in the same, provocative way that Jesus did. This book dares you—and prepares you—to cross the street and the oceans with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Some of Jesus’ instructions sound uncomfortable and are potentially dangerous. We may be initially encouraged by His declaration, “I am sending you out.” But how are we to respond when He then tells us that He is sending us out “like sheep among wolves"? In light of the words of Jesus, how can modern day believers rest comfortably in the status quo? How can we embrace casual faith in light of the radical commands of Jesus which are anything but casual? Ripken brings decades of ministry experience in some of the most persecuted areas of the world to bear on our understanding of faith in Jesus. The Insanity of Obedience is a call to roll up your sleeves . . . and to follow and partner with Jesus in the toughest places on this planet. "We have the high privilege of answering Jesus’ call to go," Ripken says. "But let us be clear about this: we go on His terms, not ours. If we go at all, we go as sheep among wolves." Jesus gives us Himself. And He gives us the tools necessary for those who dare to journey with Him.

This authoritative volume brings together a team of world-class scholars to cover the full range of Old Testament backgrounds studies in a concise, up-to-date, and comprehensive manner. With expertise in various subdisciplines of Old Testament backgrounds, the authors illuminate the cultural, social, and historical contexts of the world behind the Old Testament. They introduce readers to a wide range of background materials, covering history, geography, archaeology, and ancient Near Eastern textual and iconographic studies. Meant to be used alongside traditional literature-based canonical surveys, this one-stop introduction to Old Testament backgrounds fills a gap in typical introduction to the Bible courses. It contains over 100 illustrations, including photographs, line drawings, maps, charts, and tables, which will facilitate its use in the classroom.

Paul Barnett traces the church from the Gospels to Revelation, anchoring events recorded in the New Testament within the historical, political and social context of the Roman Empire.

You go to church, you read the Bible, you participate in small groups—but do you truly know God? God gives every Christian the tools for an active relationship with Him, but many don’t yet experience His presence in their daily lives. Dr. Tony Evans understands that the only way to deeply know God is to make seeking Him your life’s greatest purpose. In The Power of Knowing God, he shares how you can prioritize God over all else—and how doing so will transform you from the inside out. Your relationship with the Lord can be more than intellectual knowledge, warm and fuzzy feelings, or dutiful acts of service. As you begin to understand Him personally, you will… experience a soul-deep closeness with God practice relying on God instead of yourself find your identity and purpose in belonging to Him The Power of Knowing God will remind you that God wants you to be more than His acquaintance, His student, or His fan, and inspire you to dive headfirst into the pursuit of a life-changing relationship with your Savior. Complete your experience with The Power of Knowing God DVD The Power of Knowing God Interactive Workbook

Bestselling author, cofounder of Girlfriends in God, and writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries Sharon Jaynes reveals the secret to living a better story: understanding that the worst parts of our past are the very things God uses most. Many people don't like the story God is writing in their lives. The mistakes, failures, tragedies, and circumstances outside of our control linger in our minds and hold us back. How do we come to grips with the pieces of our stories that we wish weren't there? How do we silence the pain of what has been done to us and the shame of what we've allowed to be done through us? In When You Don't Like Your Story, Bible teacher Sharon Jaynes shows us how God untangles our most painful emotions with the fingers of grace, putting his redemption on display. In the hardest parts of our narratives, we get to see God's greatest work--and this changes the ending of our stories. As we overcome shame, offer forgiveness, and use our stories to help others, we find freedom from the past and learn to live in the restoration of the present.